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| BJP not to raise ‘Jazya’ issue in LA | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 2: Even as speculations are rife that J&K Legislative Assembly will allow discussion on bill seeking revocation of ban on sale of beef in Jammu and Kashmir, the Bharatiya Janata Party will not raise the issue of imposition of tax on Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage during the upcoming session here.
Highly placed sources said the BJP leadership has issued a "confidential whip" to its lawmakers not to pick up the issue of taxation on the revered pilgrimage during the legislative session as it would send a "wrong signal."
"In the general interest of the smooth functioning of the coalition, it has been unanimously resolved that none of us will raise any questions pertaining to the imposition of tax on the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage as it will send a wrong signal over our governance," said a BJP leader pleading anonymity.
The BJP is already accused of having compromised on this sensitive issue only to be in power in the state. The party leadership not only has been silent on the tax imposed by Finance Minister, it even didn't bother to formally pick up the matter with the Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed. The Finance Minister imposed service tax on the pilgrimage, which attracts around one crore devotees from across the world to the shrine in the Trikuta Hills.
Though subsequently, on September 5, the BJP was formally informed about the imposition of tax at a cabinet meeting held at the Civil Secretariat here, the right wing party opted for not confronting Darbu on the issue though the latter dared one and all saying that "the tax will not be revoked any cost."
Even though legal experts have questioned the validity of the tax, the BJP wants to be silent lest it snowballs into a controversy that stakes their being into power. As per experts the order is violation of Rule 8 of the Jammu and Kashmir Business Rules.
"As per the rules any proposal seeking amendment/imposition of a new tax ought to be approved by the Cabinet, headed by the Chief Minister which in this case has not been adhered to," said an official in the Civil Secretariat pleading anonymity.
He said even if some lawmaker raises voice on the "legality of the unilateral orders," the Finance Ministry would be in the tight spot and could be made to revoke the orders on genuine grounds. But BJP seems to be in no mood to resort to any confrontation.
On September 2, the PDP minister, unilaterally imposed 12.5 percent service tax on commercial helicopter services to the shrine, drawing widespread criticism, with most of the political parties comparing it with Jaziya while the BJP was accused of having compromised on the sentiments of millions of devotees who throng the revered shrine. |
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