Tourists planning to visit Himachal Pradesh on Monday may face inconvenience as the agitation against the entry tax of the Himachal Pradesh Government is set to intensify on Punjab Himachal borders from tomorrow. Members of the Sangharsh Committee against entry tax have announced a four-hour blockade of traffic from 11 am to 3 pm at all 56 entry and exit points connecting Himachal Pradesh with Punjab on June 1.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the committee held at Nurpur Bedi on Friday. The protesters have termed the proposed levy an “anti-people tax” and warned that they would continue their agitation until the Himachal Pradesh Government withdraws the tax.
Committee leader Gaurav Rana while talking to The Tribune said vehicles would be stopped for four hours at all major border crossings leading into Himachal Pradesh. They claimed the move would affect lakhs of commuters, traders and transporters who travel between the neighbouring states on a daily basis.
The committee appealed to local residents, market associations, transport unions and social organisations to support the protest. Leaders maintained that the agitation would remain peaceful and democratic and urged people to cooperate during the blockade.
The issue has triggered widespread concern in the border districts of Punjab and Haryana, where a large number of residents regularly travel to Himachal Pradesh for business, tourism, employment and agricultural activities. With Monday being a peak travel day for commuters are expected to face significant delays if the blockade is implemented as announced.
According to members of the Sangharsh Committee, the controversy stems from Himachal Pradesh Government entry tax imposed on vehicles entering the state from neighbouring regions.
Sangarsh Committee in recent past in a draft memorandum submitted to the Punjab Government had proposed reciprocal tax on vehicles registered in Himachal. The protesters have argued that the entry tax of Himachal was effectively functioning as an additional toll on inter-state movement and was an unnecessary burden on people who frequently cross the state border.
The committee has maintained that the entry tax of Himachal increases transportation costs for Punjab goods carriers, raise expenses for industrial units dependent on cross-border trade and affect farmers who transport agricultural produce and inputs across state boundaries. It has also expressed concern that the measure could discourage tourism, which remains one of the most important economic activities in Himachal Pradesh.
Committee leaders have further argued that residents of border areas share deep social, economic and family ties that require regular movement between Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Imposition of an entry tax, they contend, would create avoidable hurdles and negatively impact regional integration and commerce.
The agitation against the proposed levy has been gathering momentum over the past several weeks, with the committee organising meetings and awareness campaigns across border areas. Protest leaders have warned that if their demands are ignored, the movement could be expanded in the coming weeks.
Among those present at the meeting of Sargarsh Committee at Nurpur Bedi tomorrow included Madan Gopal Sharma, Darshan Singh Kapal, Kuldeep Dev Bawa, Darshan Singh, Dilawar Singh, Didar Singh Dara, Mahinder Pal Happy, Kuldeep Singh Sonu Bawa, Binder Bhagal, Mahinder Kumar Shonki, Sunil Kumar and Kamal Kumar, along with several other activists.
Authorities are expected to monitor the situation closely on Monday as thousands of vehicles are likely to be affected by the proposed four-hour blockade at the border entry points.
