The Punjab government has strongly objected to the proposal by the Himachal Pradesh government to hike entry tax on vehicles registered outside the state, which is likely to come into force from next month.
The opposition parties in Punjab and also the leaders of Himachal Pradesh living along the border areas have opposed and criticised the move.
The government of Punjab will take up the matter of the increased entry tax of Himachal from Rs 70 to Rs 170 with the Union Ministry of Transport.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains termed the tax as an illegal move. He said imposing a tax on National highways and roads under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is unconstitutional.
The matter will be taken up with the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Besides, the government will pursue the issue with the Supreme Court and fight a legal battle against the imposition of the invalid tax, he said.
Meanwhile, the ruling AAP MLA from Ropar, Dinesh Chadha, in a social media post, wrote, "The Himachal government is heavily dependent on tourists going from Punjab.
By increasing the tax from Rs 70 to Rs 170, it is trying to kill the goose that lays golden eggs for it. The people residing in border areas have developed strong kinship with one another, and this new tax is illegal for them.”
Meanwhile, the decision has also evoked a strong response from the Punjab BJP vice-president, Subhash Sharma, who said that the announcement of the new tax by Himachal on national highways and NHAI roads was illegal and unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, strong objections by traders and social organisations in the border areas of Himachal have extended support to Punjab in opposing the imposition of the entry tax.
Some social organisations have written to the Himachal Pradesh Governor to abolish the entry tax, while the former BJP President of Himachal and MLA from Una, SatpalSatti, has demanded the abolition of the new entry tax.
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