Shimla/Patiala, June 5 -- Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has taken up the issue of Himachal Pradesh-registered vehicles being subjected to an unauthorised "Khalsa tax" upon entering Punjab with his counterpart, Bhagwant Mann. State revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi told reporters in Shimla on Thursday that the collection was "completely unauthorised" and warned of legal action. "Taxation is the exclusive domain of governments. If anyone attempts to collect money illegally, it is wrong and action should be taken under the law. At the same time, isolated incidents should not be used to create unnecessary tensions between states," Negi said. The issue cropped up after Nihang groups stopped vehicles on the Manali-Kiratpur highway at Gara Moura in Kiratpur on June 3. The drive was in retaliation to the revision of entry tax rates by the Himachal Pradesh government from April 1, which ranges from Rs.100 for cars up to Rs.800 for heavy commercial vehicles. Transport unions and border residents in Punjab claim this creates unfair financial hurdles for daily trade. The Congress government in Himachal alleged that the collection appears to be a "well-planned conspiracy by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)," noting that such incidents invariably surface at the beginning of the tourist season. Negi also connected the border trouble to a May 30 incident in Kasol, where a Punjabi tourist opened fire, injuring a local resident, over a parking dispute. He said entry taxes existed under previous regimes as well. Acting chief secretary KK Pant said the administration is closely monitoring the situation to ensure citizens and tourists are not harassed. Minister and Anandpur Sahib MLA Harjot Singh Bains refused to comment on the issue. On the other hand, Nihang organisations operating near the Gara Mora toll plaza said that the hour-long collection drive on Wednesday was "a purely symbolic protest." Rejecting allegations that commuters were being issued unauthorised parallel receipts forcing them to pay between Rs.100 and Rs.500, Nihang leader Achhar Singh Mahakal said no fixed amount was mandated. According to protesters, motorists voluntarily contributed smaller amounts ranging from Rs.10 to Rs.100, and donations were accepted from any willing commuter, not just those in HP-registered vehicles. "We are not against Himachal Pradesh or its people. We don't want to ruin the brotherly relations that have existed for decades between the people of Punjab and Himachal. The exercise was purely symbolic and voluntary," Mahakal said. The campaign follows a June 1 demonstration by farmers' organisations, taxi unions, and border residents. Organisers rejected claims that the drive was a revenue-generating exercise, asserting that all collected funds would be dedicated to "sarbat da bhala" (the welfare of all) and helping the needy. Rahul Sharma, the station house officer (SHO) of the Kiratpur Sahib police station, said local police verified the demonstration and found nothing objectionable. "It was a peaceful protest. No one was forced to pay. Nihangs only asked for donations," Sharma said, adding there were no law-and-order issues....