Only rich use chopper services, they can pay tax: Drabu

Jammu and Kashmir government is reluctant to roll-back its tax on chopper services to cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Trikuta hills saying that if there no issues with municipal and the shrine board's taxes what is the problem with state government's tax.
"If there is no problem in paying Municipal taxes and tax by Vashno Devi Shrine Board, what is problem in paying Rs 100 tax to us (State government)," J-K Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu told reporters here today.
He was replying to a question whether the State government will roll back its tax on chopper services to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine due to protests and criticism from people across the country.

"I do not know why it would become an issue that we have levied the tax. Chopper services have started. There is no problem to them. What percentage of pilgrims goes on chopper. They are less in number," he said.
"Who uses chopper services?Only rich and elite? They can pay and have no problem in paying," he added.
The minister said,"there is Municipal tax on every pilgrim that goes to Vaishno Devi. How is that not an issue... Vaishno Devi Trust charges them for landing charges for the chopper that too more than Rs 300."

"The total amount of tax comes to Rs 600... The real issue is that there is Municipal tax on ponies, horses, cycles and labourers," he said.

Drabu further said, "I did this basically in anticipation of heli-service coming to J&K. If I also get Rs 200 from ticket amount what is the problem."
The Finance Department in September this year issued a notification levying a sales tax of 12.5 per cent on the "commercial helicopter services operating within the state".
The move led to criticism of the state government from many quarters as they claimed that it was targeted at Vaishno Devi and Amarnath pilgrims.