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One month on, DyCM yet to fulfil his assurance 10/3/2015 12:57:06 AM Early Times Report JAMMU, Oct 2: Exactly one month back, when Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu had issued an order to impose 12.5 percent service tax on the pilgrims of holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh was first to react against this decision- which was widely perceived as "Jaziya" by the Hindu groups. As Hindu groups were up in arms against this unilateral decision of the Finance Minister to impose tax on pilgrims, the Deputy Chief Minister had assured these groups and civil society of Jammu that this "Jaziya" will be withdrawn within a day or two. Exactly one month has passed but Deputy Chief Minister's assurance is yet to be fulfilled. Some central leaders of BJP and even some Union Ministers had also intervened but there is no breakthrough in this case because BJP ministers in the coalition government are not serious to get this issue solved. Credible sources in the corridors of power said that neither Deputy Chief Minister nor any other any other BJP minister has seriously taken up this service tax issue with coalition partner PDP. Most of the BJP leaders are more concerned about their own ministers and they are working on the advices and suggestions of power brokers and businessmen under whose directions these ministers are taking important decisions. Order to impose service tax on pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi was issued on September 2 and the same order was implemented on the very next day by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB).This order has evoked very strong reaction from the civil society. Even Minister of State for Finance, Pawan Gupta publically opposed decision of his senior minister. According to rough estimates, nearly 1000 pilgrims including aged, infirm and children, who can't trek 26 kilometers distance to and fro for darshan of Goddess Vaishno Devi, fly by air everyday to the cave shrine from Katra depending upon the weather conditions.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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