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| When BJP ignored discussion on Jazia before Union Home Minister | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Sept 27: The Bharatiya Janta Party would not formally seek revocation of service tax on Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, as the party didn't formally discuss the matter with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir last week.
Highly placed sources said the state unit of BJP decided not to seek revocation of tax as the issue could affect the prospects of PDP-led alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the main sign of this surrender was that the issue was never formally discussed with the Union Home Minister during his 3-day visit of the state. The tax was imposed by Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu of PDP who since day one remained strong-footed on not revoking the controversial orders. Sources said ahead of Home Minister's visit, the BJP leaders in the state had listed several issues which the party leadership discussed with Rajnath Singh. Observers said if the party had discussed the taxation with the Home Minister, it would have been a major breakthrough and that the same could be pursued at highest levels in coming times.
"But the leaders unanimously resolved that discussing taxation on Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage with the Home Ministry could hit prospects of the smooth running of the PDP led coalition in the state and thus is the interest of being in power the issue was deliberately sacrificed during the meeting," said a party insider pleading anonymity.
He said the BJP party leadership discussed several issues with the visiting dignitary but only the issue of tax was skipped. He said the party leadership resolved that instead of tax on Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, the BJP would continue to raise its voice on the beef ban and LoC skirmishes. "Basically, the beef ban is to continue so the party thought of fighting for a cause which is achievable in the coalition and not something unachievable like revocation of tax," the insider said.
Since September 2 when the tax was imposed on this most revered pilgrimage undertaken in Trikuta Hills, the BJP confined its reaction to mere symbolic statements of condemnation.
Despite being formally informed about the imposition of tax at the September 5 Cabinet meeting, no BJP leader tried anything tangible for revocation of the orders.
Sources said while Nirmal Signh remained silent before Drabu in the meeting, thereafter the party sent no formal memorandum to Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed seeking revocation of the orders.
The imposition of tax on Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage has exposed the dirty underbelly of politics in Jammu, as almost all political parties, particularly the BJP which was voted to power by this region kept their condemnation confined to symbolic statements.
This pilgrimage has been the backbone of economy in the state as some, one crore pilgrims annually pay obeisance at the shrine. |
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