'Khalsa tax': Issue taken up with Punjab Chief Minister, says Himachal minister Jagat Singh Negi

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh chief minister has taken up the issue of "Khalsa tax" sought from the vehicles registered in the state at the Punjab border with his Punjab counterpart, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said on Friday.

He was referring to the symbolic tax imposed by a group of Nihang Sikhs on motorists with Himachal Pradesh number plates entering Punjab from the Kiratpur Sahib-Manali highway on Wednesday. The group said it was to protest what they "entry tax" by the hills state on the out-of-state vehicles entering.

Terming the tax "illegal", Negi alleged that it is a conspiracy ahead of the tourist season and also referred to the recent incident in Kasol in Himachal's Kullu district where four tourists from Punjab were arrested for shooting and injuring a local on May 30.


Read More: Nihang Sikhs impose symbolic 'Khalsa tax' on HP vehicles at Punjab border point

"Earlier, a local was shot and now the illegal tax is being collected on Punjab border," he said, adding that it is the state governments' prerogative to decide what kind of taxes or fees are to be imposed and individuals or organisations have no authority to levy any charges.

Talking to reporters, Achhar Singh, the leader of the group collecting the "tax", said they did not force anyone to pay, and they appealed to commuters in Himachal-registered vehicles entering Punjab to voluntarily pay the "Khalsa tax".

"It was a symbolic protest against the tax which is levied on the out-of-state vehicles entering Himachal Pradesh," he added.

From April 1, the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government has increased the entry tax on vehicles from other states entering Himachal Pradesh and the new tax amount ranges between Rs 100 and 700.