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| Finally BJP wakes up to pick holes in ‘Jazya’ diktat | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Sept 29: Awaking to the sensitivity of imposition of tax on Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage by the Finance Minister allegedly in brazen violation of norms and other set procedures to enforce such laws, the MoS Finance today said Finance Minister did not sought the consent of the cabinet.
Highly placed sources said the MoS Finance Pawan Gupta has shot a letter to his senior, questioning the latter's order of imposing service tax on chopper service to Vaishno Devi shrine. Gupta has clarified that Minister has not "adhered to the Rule 8 of the Jammu and Kashmir Business Rules".
"The rule stipulates that any proposal seeking amendment/imposition of a new tax ought to be approved by the Cabinet, which in the instant case is learnt to have not been adhered," reads the letter. On September 2, a PDP minister, unilaterally imposed 12.5 percent service tax on commercial helicopter services to the shrine, drawing widespread criticism, with most of the political parties comparing it with Jaziya while the BJP was accused of having compromised on the sentiments of millions of devotees who throng the revered shrine.
Sources said it was only because of the sustained campaign launched by Early Times that BJP woke up to the crisis and shot a letter for a face saving ahead of shifting of Darbar Move to Jammu where people are up in arms. Gupta has informed the minister that the "Jazya" was "attack on the faith" of people. "Mass public resentment in Jammu region especially the pilgrims across the country visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi as well as Shri Amarnath Shrine has complained while taking it and attack on their faiths," the letter as per the sources reads.
Gupta has informed Finance Minister that leave apart seeking Cabinet nod on this sensitive issue he didn't even bother to discuss the same with his MoS. "Such an order about a sensitive issue has neither been discussed with the undersigned (Gupta) being a member of the Council of Ministers of the State, especially holding the portfolio of the Finance Department, nor Cabinet ministers forming part of this government from BJP have been consulted in the matter," the letter reads.
When contacted the MoS Finance endorsed to have shot the letter to the Finance Minister. He however didn't divulge contents. "I have a confidential mail for which I can't divulge details," the Minister told Early Times. |
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