Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 5: Strongly flaying the Finance Minister, Dr Haseeb Drabu for his rigid posturing and justification for imposition of service tax on the helicopter services to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine made during his press conference on Friday, NPP chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh lambasted the BJP for its failure to confront its partner over the sensitive issue which had a tremendous emotional appeal.
Reacting sharply Mr Singh said that BJP had utterly disappointed the people by surrendering meekly before its coalition partner on the subject despite its tall claims in the past assuring roll back on service tax. He said that SRO 297 dated September 2 issued by the Finance Deptt imposing service tax on helicopter services was highly obnoxious and sinister and had deeply hurt the religious faith of Hindus all over the globe.
He said that Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board which is the regulatory body for conduct of Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage had initiated economical helicopter services especially for the convenience of the ailing and the aged, children, physically challenged as also those having medical problems. He regretted that the State Govt poked its nose into the highly sensitive religious issue and imposed tax on the religious pilgrimage akin to the ‘Jazia’ imposed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Mr Singh said that most disgusting aspect of the matter was the imposition of service tax on helicopter services without the approval of Cabinet. He said that Rule 8 of Govt Business Rules read with its second schedule categorically provided that any proposal for imposition of a new tax or raising the pitch of an existing tax shall be brought before the Cabinet for approval. He regretted that in the instant case, the Finance Minister had issued the order without seeking approval of the Cabinet with dumb stricken BJP merely making vague statements in the media.
He said that the sinister move had not only offended the religious sentiments of Hindus across the globe but had also undermined and bypassed the authority of State Cabinet as well as of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board headed by the Governor.
Follow our WhatsApp channel