Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 9: Ridiculing the justification advanced by the PDP-BJP Government on imposition of service tax on helicopter service to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana today said the tax realization on this account will not even be half of what the coalition ministers are spending on their national and international jaunts under the guise of tourism promotion in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Despite such an economic insignificance, the tax imposition is a deliberate attempt to whip up passions as prelude to taking over the control of Shri Mata Vaisho Devi Shrine Board by the BJP-RSS lobby”, Mr Rana said while addressing party office bearers and workers at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here.
He said the coalition partners are in league and also having tacit understanding to destabilise the State, as they have developed vested interest in vitiating peace for their political sustenance and survival of the Government. “The logic that the service tax has been imposed on all sort of helicopter services is ridiculous, as even naive people know that such a facility is operating round the year 24X7 on this shrine circuit only”, he said, wondering how the Government could take such an insensitive decision having far reaching consequences and serious ramifications, given the sensitivities involved.
Mr Rana advised the PDP-BJP coalition to rescind the order with regard to service tax, as it is bound to boomerang and create avoidable controversy, not only in the state but elsewhere in the country. He said in the interest of peace, the Government should desist from reactionary measures. “It is true that the PDP and the BJP believes in obstructionism and division of the society, as was amply reflected during the 2008 agitation but the State cannot afford such a situation now”, he said while referring to the sustained efforts of the Omar led Government in steering out Jammu and Kashmir from the morass soon after coming to power in 2009
The Provincial President exhorted the cadre to peacefully demonstrate against the anti-people policies of the PDP-BJP Government and ensure that unity and tranquility is maintained at all costs.
Speaking on the occasion, the State Secretary Th Rachpal Singh said that National Conference will not allow the Coalition Government to disturb peace by whipping up passions and exploiting contentious issues to satiate their respective constituencies.
“We have braved challenges of peace inimical elements in the past and are committed to foil these with full might in future as well”, he maintained.
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