*BJP not consulted by PDP on tax issue: MoS, Sethi
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 6: The Opposition Congress and even the ruling BJP leaders, including a coalition Minister, have criticized the State Government for imposing tax on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) pilgrims intending to take helicopter service to the Holy Shrine.
While MoS Finance, Pawan Gupta has alleged that his senior colleague, Haseeb Drabu has not taken him into confidence while taking decision on imposing 12.5 % tax on heli-tickets for Shri MataVaishno Devi pilgrims, the Opposition Congress and NC leaders termed this decision as most unfortunate and highly unjustified, which has hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community.
“I am totally opposed to the decision. I was not taken into confidence while taking the decision. This is complete violation of `coalition dharma’ by the PDP,” Mr Gupta said.
He regretted that the PDP has unilaterally taken this decision without taking him into confidence on such a sensitive issue. Mr Gupta said that he has conveyed his concern to the BJP high command and briefed them that he was never consulted by the coalition partner on the decision.
Provincial president of National Conference for Jammu, Devender Singh Rana (MLA) today strongly condemned and decried the State Government’s action of imposition of service tax on the Helicopter service to the Holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji, describing it as most arbitrary act of the PDP- BJP Coalition, displaying their high handedness and cavalier attitude.
“It is too much for the coalition partners to indulge in contentious issues ignoring the sensitivities involved”, he said, hoping good sense to prevail upon the Government.
Mr Rana said the imposition of tax is a provocative act aimed at whipping up passions and generating avoidable controversies”, he said, adding that this is yet another uncalled for measure to avert the attention of the people from the failures of the Government.
“After imposition of heavy toll tax on the road leading to the Holy shrine, this is yet another measure to put extra burden on pilgrims, which may boomerang”, he said adding that the coalition partners need to explain as to what led to such a harsh measure.
Seeking immediate withdrawal of the service tax, Mr Rana also appealed to the people to maintain peace and calm and not get provoked by the State Government’s deliberate attempts to unleash communal frenzy in order to cover up their own failures. He said to maintain the secular fabric of the State it is incumbent on all to maintain unity and to isolate elements who want to disturb the traditional bonds of brotherhood, secularism and communal harmony in the State.
CLP leader in Upper House and senior Congress leader Jugal Kishore Sharma has described the decision of PDP-BJP Coalition Government for imposing 12.5 percent services tax on the Heli-tickets of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims as most unfortunate and unjustified move.
In a press statement Mr Sharma mentioned that Shrine Board is a constitutional and autonomous body which should be independent of the direct interference of the Govt. He termed it as biased attitude and community favouritism by the Government which has levied no tax on the tourist activities such as the Gondola services in Gulmarg where as the pilgrims from one section have been imposed `Jazia’.
He said the Government has shown cold shoulder towards the poor, aged and the physically handicapped pilgrims. He suggested that the Government could have implemented the tourists tax on the cable cars in Gulmarg. He also condemned BJP leadership for it.
Former legislator and senior Congress Ashok Sharma has strongly criticized the BJP-PDP Coalition Government for imposing 12.5% tax on tickets of helicopter operating between Katra and Shanjichhat and urged upon the State Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed to with draw the same immediately as it will put extra burden on Mata Vaishno Devi yaris.
In a statement issued here today, Mr Sharma said that imposition of tax on helicopter tickets is unwanted interference in the functioning of the autonomous Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board by the State Government which will not only affect the number of visiting pilgrims to the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji but will also send a wrong signal across the country.
The Congress leader added that the constitution of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board by a Special Act was aimed to provide better facilities and services to the pilgrims on no profit no loss basis, which the Board could achieve by institutionalizing it under the stewardship of the respective Governors as Chairmen of the Board.
He further added that the imposition of the tax is likely to affect the independent working of the Shrine Board which has been completely institutionalized by adopting all requirements of good governance, whereas, we have failed to institutionalize even a single department or office or institution of State Government. Therefore, any such imposition of tax shall be a step towards the degradation of the institutionalize Board.
The quantum of amount which will be collected through this unreasonable and unwanted tax by the Government will not be much but it will create lot of apprehension among the people about such an abrupt move of the Government which could be exploited by certain elements. He said that all right thinking people across the spectrum of the society will oppose imposition of the tax, Mr Sharma added.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and State chief spokesman of the party, Sunil Sethi while opposing the decision of the `PDP-BJP Coalition’ in the State to impose 12.5 % tax on Heli tickets of Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims, termed it as a bad decision and urged the Government to go for its withdrawal.
While addressing media persons along with party State spokesperson, Balbir Ram Rattan today, Sunil Sethi said that the decision has hurt the sentiments of Hindu community and particularly the pilgrims who visit Shri Mata Vaishno Devi for performing Darshan, which is the most revered Hindu shrine, where more than one crore devotees visit annually. The economy of State and particularly that of the Jammu region is mainly dependent on the pilgrimage and the decontamination taken by Finance Ministry of State Government is very unfortunate, likely to affect the pilgrimage and will send wrong signal.
Mr Sethi said that the decision taken to impose service tax is without taking view of coalition partner and prior consultation should have been done with BJP before taking decision on such sensitive issue.
The BJP further said that such like decisions should be avoided in future for smooth functioning of the coalition in the State, which is effectively providing equal opportunities of development and progress to all regions of the State. He further asserted that remedial measures to withdraw notification should be done immediately before damage is done.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and national executive member of ST Morcha of the party, Ishfaq-ur-Rehman Poswal, has expressed serious concerns over imposition of whopping 12.5 per cent services tax on the pilgrims of Holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji.
Demanding revocation of Government order on hike in Taxes, Poswal wrote a letter to BJP chief Amit Shah urging him to pass directives to the State Government to revoke the order.
“The Government decision has affected lakhs of pilgrims, who pay obeisance at the world famous holy shrine from across India every year. Through a letter, I urge Mr Amit Shah to immediately intervene in the matter and issue orders for revocation of the tax imposed on pilgrims,” Mr Poswal said.
The BJP leader said that the State Government should realize that the decision of imposing tax will not only affect the pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir but lakhs of pilgrims from across the country. He said with the recent hike in taxes locally called as “Jazia”, prices of one way ticket from Katra to Sanjichhat in Jammu region has been raised from Rs 1039 to Rs 1170 while rates of to and fro tickets from Katra to Sanji Chat and back have been raised from Rs 2078 to Rs 2340, which has hurt the pilgrims.
All Jammu and Kashmir Kissan Union leader, Dr Yash Paul president Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action has also strongly criticized the State Government to impose additional tax on the pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra and demanded that this decision should be revoked without any delay otherwise, the Government should get ready for appropriate response from the people of Jammu
Meanwhile, Welfare Committee Katra has also strongly condemned the decision of the BJP-PDP Coalition Government to impose tax on Heli-tickets of Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims and said that it was direct intervention of the State Government in the affairs of the Shrine Board which is independent autonomous body under State Governor, as its chairman.
In a meeting of the Committee held at Katra this evening, the members took strong exception to the totally arbitrary, irrational , unfair decision taken by the Govt in forcefully imposing service tax of 12.5% on the helicopter tickets meant for the pilgrims visiting the holy pilgrimage of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Katra. They said the Govt on one hand is boasting of promoting the tourism pilgrimage by extending all the benefits to the pilgrims and on the other hand is befooling the people by imposing the new tax , which even is a intrusion and obstruction in the famous pilgrimage. The Govt should rather provide exemptions to the pilgrims , but to the contrary has taken a “draconian step” , which would not only bring down the already decline in the Yatra ,besides would have disastrous effects upon the senior citizens and handicapped pilgrims.
They further said the State Governor as chairman of the Shrine Board and Constitutional head of the State should immediately intervene otherwise people will come out on the road and Government will have to face the consequences. They said the decision has hurt the religious sentiments of one community and it should be withdrawn without any delay.
Prominent among those who attended meeting included Bal Krishan Purohit, Hans Raj Sapolia, Surinder Sharma (Adv), Sunil Sharma ( Adv), Madan Dogra, Raj Kumar Verma, Brij Mohan Sadhotra and others.
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