Various political parties and social organisations in Jammu have condemned the move of the state government to impose additional service tax on the helicopter service of the Vaishno Devi pilgrims.
While condemning the imposition of the service tax the state unit of the Congress had demanded an immediate withdrawal of the tax.
"What is the justification of such a move which is aimed at hurting the religious sentiments of the people of this country where the government offers subsidy and other facilities to respect the religious sentiments of its citizens", senior vice president of state Congress unit, Sham Lal Sharma said.
He said that it was a "most unfortunate decision" taken by the government in which BJP is an equal partner. "We take a strong exception of this most unjustified, arbitrary' and provocative action of the State government to impose 12.5 per cent service tax on the air travel facility to Vaishno Devi pilgrims", he said.
The Congress questioned the BJP for its compulsion to stay in the coalition, if it has not been consulted on such a sensitive issue, touching the religious sentiments of crores of people of this country.
While suggesting the BJP to immediately come out of the coalition, if it has little respect for the religious sentiments and other rights of the people, who gave them mandate.
"Otherwise the BJP leaders especially the Cabinet Ministers shall face the music of the anger of the people for bringing disrespect to their religious sentiments and surrendering their rights for enjoying power", Sharma said.
Meanwhile, in Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Haseeb Ahmad Drabu told PTI today that "We have decided to impose 12.5 per cent tax on commercial helicopter services in the state."
The minister, however, did not divulge further details of the order.
The main opposition National Conference too has flayed the government of imposing additional service tax on the air fare of the Vaishno Devi bound pilgrims.
