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| J&K only State to tax pilgrims, other states, Central Govt offer subsidies | | Tax on Vaishno Devi pilgrimage hits hard at communal harmony | | Early Times Report
srinagar, Sept 9: Even as some forces in the Jammu and Kashmir Government seem to be hell bent to disturb the communal harmony by selectively imposing tax on Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, the fact remains that this taxing contradicts the national policy, whereby the Central and the State Governments offer subsidies on pilgrimages irrespective of religion, across the country.
The Government as imposed service tax on the pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine along with all other commercial chopper services of the State. While the imposition of this tax is uncalled for, the decision exposes the dirty underbelly of the politics in the State, where coalition partner BJP, voted to power by Jammu region, has often been seen in compromising positions only to be power.
The Governments elsewhere, in other Indian states, or even the central Government for that matter, have been upholding the tradition of offering subsidies to various pilgrimages.
From Hindus to Muslims and people of other faiths, almost all reap benefits of such subsidies. While financial assistance is already offered for Hajj, Manasarovar and Mukthinath pilgrimages, the Government has even funded pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
In 2012, the Tamil Nadu offered financial assistance to Christian pilgrims keen to avail state financial assistance of Rs 20,000 to undertake a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. In the first phase, 500 Christians, belonging to various religious orders, were given financial assistance out of Rs 2 crore earmarked for two years for the purpose.
The Tamil Nadu Government also offers assistance for 500 pilgrims bound for Kailash-Mansarovar in China and Muktinath in Nepal. This decision of 2012 was fulfilment of election promise, by Chief Minister Jaya Lallitha.
At present, the Union Government spends crores of rupees as subsidies for pilgrims visiting various religious shrines. The major pilgrimage destinations receiving assistance from the Centre include the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina.
The Hajj gets the largest chunk of the subsidy. According to official figures, the Government has spent Rs 691 crore as Hajj subsidy for 2013-14 and Rs 836 crore in 2012-13.
Even if the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra is seen from tourism point of view and considered as religious tourism, the imposition of tax is illogical.
This is because the Ministry of Tourism Government of India, as a part of its special initiative offers special financial assistance for development of areas falling in "circuits" of religious tourism.
Official documents reveal that the Central Government has already identified several such circuits for assistance of upto Rs 50 crores each.
In Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati Heritage Circuit, Kadapa Heritage Circuit and the Charminar area have been identified for assistance.
Interestingly in Jammu and Kashmir, million-dollar funding by the centre is underway for development of "Spiritual Destination of Leh-Ladakh".
Amid this all, singling out the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi for imposition of tax makes no sense but can only disturb the communal harmony and is feared to polarize the state again. "Vaishno Devi pilgrimage has been a backbone of JK economy as millions of devotees who come for pilgrimage actually spend a considerable amount on their trip in way of transportation, boarding, lodging and shopping. At the end, this all brings money to the State. But instead of being thankful, Government wants to suck blood of pilgrims through tax, this is intolerable" said Parveen Sharma, a Jammuite.
By defending his decision to impose Service Tax, which has been dubbed as "Jazya" by BJP leaders, the concerned Minister seems to have cut BJP leaders to their size in the coalition Government.
The BJP leaders including national general secretary of the party, Ram Madhav, who was architect of PDP-BJP Government in J&K, had initially raised hue and cry over the decision to impose Service Tax on pilgrims. But little importance was given to these BJP leaders, who are already accused of being power-hungry.
Interestingly the BJP has been accused of "communalizing the situation."
But is criticism to this decision communal or is the decision communal in itself? This the time will decide as to who will finally eat the humble pie! |
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