Rollback service tax on helicopter services for pilgrims: Rana

National Conference Provincial President and MLA Nagrota Devender Singh Rana on Wednesday reiterated the demand for rollback of 12.5 per cent service tax on helicopter operations to Shri Mata Viashno Devi Cave Shrine, saying the arbitrary measure is not only an additional burden on the pilgrims but also a deliberate attempt to jeopradise local economy.

“Promotion of pilgrim tourism has potential to give boost to the local economy and instead of incentivising the inflow of devotees from various parts of the country, the PDP-BJP government is creating roadblocks”, Rana said while launching and inaugurating several development projects in the Nagrota assembly constituency.

He said that the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage has sustained the economy of Jammu region during most turbulent times when tourist inflow had almost come to grinding halt in early nineties due to disturbed conditions across the state, especially the Kashmir. “The pilgrim tourism continues to be a big source of economic sustenance for the people of the region and therefore every effort is needed to be made give a big fillip to it”, he said adding that roll back of the service tax will be a right step towards ensuring increased pilgrimage.

Rana blamed the coalition government for ignoring popular aspirations of the people and described insistence on levying the service tax as a sign of arrogance. He said the government has failed on all fronts and igniting passions was only a diversionary tactics to hide its failures.