Congress criticise the hike of tax in Vaishno Devi chopper service

Janjivan Bureau
New Delhi: The Congress Party on Monday accused the the PDP-BJP Government’s decision to hike the service tax to 12.5 percent on the trip charges to the Vaishno Devi via chopper, and alleged that it was an effort by the latter to take over the Shrine Board.Congress also condemned the NDA Government of backing away from its word on money to be provided to flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir.
“It is the most unfortunate act on the part of PDP-BJP Government. This tax is unnecessary and is not going to add much to the state government. It has all the potential to hurt the sentiments of pilgrims. It is a direct confrontation with the faith of the people,” Congress spokes person Abhishek Manu Singhvi told to the journalist.
“We do understand that a covert and an avert effort is going on by the PDP and BJP Government to somehow take over the Shrine Board for their own political ends,” he added.
The Finance Department, headed by Haseeb Drabu of the PDP, issued a notification on September 2, asking the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) to impose a 12.5 per cent service tax on pilgrims travelling by helicopter to and fro from Katra to Sanjhi Chhat.
Due to this notification the fare rise up from Rs.1039 to Rs.1170.
“The Central Government had promised Rs.44,000 crores for the state. The finance minister then announced Rs.1667 crores, and only Rs.839 crores was given to Jammu and Kashmir,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told media here at a press conference.
“Even as we commemorate the anniversary of the deluge of Jammu and Kashmir, the government has gone back on its word on the money provided as aid” he added.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in June had declared that 2,437 crore rupees was being immediately released for the state, but a Home Ministry press release issued later said 1,667 crore rupees additional assistance was being released.
The figures were lower than the 44,000 crore rupees that the National Conference-Congress government had demanded from the Center post the floods.