JKNPP flays service tax on helicopter service for Vaishno Devi

Strongly condemning the state Finance Minister for the imposition of service tax on Helicopter services to Vaishno Devi, Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party today said that the decision has deeply "hurt" the religious faith of Hindus all over the globe.
JKNPP Chairman Harsh Dev Singh said that government order issued by the Finance department imposing service tax on helicopter services availed by the pilgrims was highly obnoxious and sinister, and had deeply hurt the religious faith of Hindus all over the globe.
He said that the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, which is the regulatory body for conducting 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.

"It is regretful that the state government was poking its nose into the highly sensitive religious issue and imposed tax on the religious pilgrimage akin to the 'Jazia' imposed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb," Singh said.