news details |
|
|
| 'Power hungry' BJP doesn't condemn Vaishno Devi tax | | | Early Times Report
srinagar, Sept 11: Even as Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu has arbitrarily imposed 12.50 per cent service tax on Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, the coalition partner BJP seems in no mood to condemn the decision that has hurt sentiments of millions of devotees. Instead the party has feigned ignorance about the tax orders in force since September 2.
A handout by the BJP spokesman Khalid Jehangir doesn't condemn or criticize the decision of the Finance Minister. It has, however, advised him to draw tax from other resources.
The BJP has formally even not appealed the Chief Minister to get the order revoked but has sought "review." "BJP's State spokesman Khalid Jehangir urged Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to review the decision of imposing tax on commercial helicopters that ferry pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in the larger interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," the handout reads.
"He (Khalid Jehangir) asked Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu that State can generate tax revenue from many other important sectors, which are not being taxed as yet," the handout said.
It was on September 2 when Finance Minister issued orders to impose tax on the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage. But over a week on, the BJP spokesman feigns ignorance, saying that "before going ahead with the decision of levying tax on helicopter service to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, Government should have sought consensus from civil society, religious and political organisations owing to the sensitivity of the issue."
The BJP spokesman said the party "wants to promote religious tourism aggressively in the State but decisions like these can act as hurdles for pilgrims to visit revered shrines of the State".
"I urge Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed to show urgency in reviewing the controversial order of imposing tax on commercial helicopters service to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine so that the issue is prevented from snowballing into a larger controversy," the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the BJP's silence has drawn serious criticism from hundreds of devotees from across the country, particularly the people of Jammu who voted the party to power.
Forget the Hindu community, which is up in arms, even the Muslims from trouble torn Kashmir have openly condemned the imposition of tax on Vaishno Devi pilgrimage.
Taking at dig at Finance Minister Kashmir, Economic Alliance chairman Mohammad Yasin Khan has sought personal intervention of Prime Minister and Chief Minister. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
