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| Drabu shows BJP Ministers their position in Coalition; stoutly defends his decision | | Imposition of Tax on pilgrims | | Early Times Report
jammu, Sept 8: Out-rightly rejecting objections raised by BJP leaders including national general secretary Ram Madhav, Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu today reasserted that service tax would be applicable on the pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi along with all other commercial chopper services of the State. By defending his decision to impose Service Tax, which has been dubbed as "Jizjya" by BJP leaders, the Finance Minister has shown BJP leaders their positions in the coalition government. It is virtually a slap on the face of "nationalist" leadership of BJP which has already sold Jammu's wishes and aspirations for the lust of power in J&K.
BJP leaders including national general secretary of the party, Ram Madhav, who was architect of PDP-BJP Government in J&K, had raised hue and cry over Finance Minister's decision to impose Service Tax on pilgrims but Dr Drabu gave little importance to these BJP leaders because he is very much aware that power hungry BJP leaders are not going to take any tough stand on this issue. Most of the BJP Ministers in the government are working on the advices of businessmen who are more concerned about their own business interests instead of Jammu's wishes and aspirations.
Interestingly Finance Minister has not only defended his decision, he also indirectly attacked BJP for trying to communalize the situation. As BJP leaders were making hue and cry, the Finance Minister, in an indirect attack on BJP, expressed dismay over the reckless and provocative remarks of some political parties on the issue, whom he accused of trying to communalize a simple administrative order applicable throughout the State.
Meanwhile according to an official handout issued here today, the Finance Department today made it clear that the Service Tax proposed to be levied by the State Government is applicable to all commercial helicopter services operating in Jammu and Kashmir.
Commenting on the issue, the Finance Minister, Dr Haseeb Drabu said Service Tax is also being charged on ropeways and cable car services, which carry tourists and pilgrims to not only tourist resorts but also to some revered shrines in Kashmir valley. "There is no question of charging such a tax on a particular route," he said.
"Similar tax is being imposed on chopper services ferrying tourists to exotic spots like Gulmarg and Pahalgam," he said.
Drabu said levying of service tax only adds Rs 130 to the cost of the chopper ticket on any route in Jammu and Kashmir ticket. |
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