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| Lal Singh takes LS by storm | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Mar 19
The Congress’ Member Parliament from Kathua-Udhampur constituency Choudhary Lal Singh was today seen at the best of his vocal when he stole the show in Lok Sabha voicing concern over the labourers engaged on track to Mata Vaishno Devi.
Choudhary Lal Singh’s heart rendering plea in the Lok Sabha left all members engrossed as he trooped to the Well of the House when he did not find the government responding to the issue raised by him. His vociferous protest ended only when the Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal announced adjournment of the House.
The Congress MP made an emotional plea to the government to withdraw the taxes imposed on the labourers who carry pilgrims to the shrine of Vaishnodevi on their backs.
"A hefty tax is imposed on the poor 'pithuwalas' (who carry the pilgrims to the shrine)," Choudhury Lal Singh, told parliament.
"I will go to any extent to solve the plight of about 17,000 labourers, who are being exploited," Singh said. As deputy speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal asked him to wind up his speech, Singh ran to the well shouting that he wanted a response from the government. The deputy speaker had to adjourn the Lok Sabha immediately for lunch.
Singh said a tax of Rs.33 is charged from the Pithuwalas, while more tax is imposed on 'ponywalas', who carry pilgrims on the horseback, and 'palkiwalas' or palanquin carriers.
He said out of Rs.162 charged by the pithuwala, Rs.33 was taken away as tax while the local contractor took away another Rs.9. Similar was the plight of the palkiwalas and the ponywalas.
"Have you heard of poor labourers being imposed tax like this?" he asked. "The poor labourers are exploited there. They are not even allowed to enter the eateries and they do not have any night shelters."
"I am asking my own party-led government to withdraw this tax," he said. Although Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes was sitting in the house, he did not respond to Singh's pleas.
The Udhampur MP also said the labourers' livelihood had also come under threat from helicopter and battery car services. |
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