The Himachal Pradesh government has raised the issue of the so-called "Khalsa tax" being collected from Himachal-registered vehicles at the Punjab border with the Punjab government, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said on Friday.
Negi was referring to an incident on Wednesday when a group of Nihang Sikhs stopped vehicles bearing Himachal Pradesh registration numbers on the Kiratpur Sahib-Manali highway and sought a symbolic "Khalsa tax". The group said the move was a protest against the entry tax imposed by Himachal Pradesh on vehicles coming from outside the state.
Calling the collection of such a tax unlawful, Negi alleged that the move appeared to be a conspiracy ahead of the tourist season. He also cited the recent firing incident in Kasol, where four tourists from Punjab were arrested for allegedly shooting and injuring a local resident on May 30.
“First, a local resident was shot in Kasol, and now an illegal tax is being collected at the Punjab border,” he said. Negi added that only state governments have the authority to impose taxes or fees and that no individual or private organisation can collect money in this manner.
Speaking to mediapersons, Achhar Singh, who was leading the protest, said no one was compelled to pay the amount. According to him, motorists driving Himachal Pradesh-registered vehicles into Punjab were only requested to make a voluntary contribution as part of the protest.
He said the campaign was meant to symbolically oppose the entry tax charged by Himachal Pradesh on vehicles from other states entering the hill state.
The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government revised the entry tax structure for vehicles coming into Himachal Pradesh from other states with effect from April 1. Under the revised rates, vehicle owners are required to pay an entry tax ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 700.
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