Rift witnessed in coalition over GST implementation
A serious rift developed within the ruling coalition as the BJP pressed for meeting the July 1 deadline to implement the GST in the state while the PDP sought more time to discuss the issue.
According to sources Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, chaired an all party meeting over the implementation of the GST in the state in which the Opposition parties opposed the decision of the government to implement the tax in the state and raised concerns that it will violate the special status of the state.
In the meeting however even as the PDP was pressing for discussions on the issue, BJP wanted that a bill be brought in the assembly to implement the law. In the meeting it was stressed by the BJP that either a bill can be brought in the Assembly or a Presidential order issued to implement the law after the resolution was passed in the Assembly,
The all part meeting was convened by the government to evolve a ìconsensusíí over the implementation of the GST as well as to work out the modalities for the implementation of the Act.
The issue has triggered a controversy in the state as the NC termed it as violation of Article 370 of the constitution which grants ëspecial statusí to the state. The meeting was held at the SKICC this afternoon as the leaders from the ruling PDP, BJP, and Opposition NC and Congress converged at the SKICC.
Earlier a delegation of NC led by its working president, Omar Abdullah, last week, met Governor N N Vohra, about the ìimminent extension of constitutional amendment 101 to Jammu and Kashmirî by virtue of which the new GST law will come into effect. The constitutional amendment will require a presidential order to be issued before it gets enacted in the state while CM, Mehbooba Mufti, has called special assembly session from June 17 to discuss the issue.
Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu, earlier said that the Article 370 will remain protected and wouldnít be affected after the implementation of the GST in the state. Among others who took part in the meeting include Congress partyís Nawang Rigzin Jora, Aijaz Khan, Usman Majid and G N Monga, NCís AR Rather, Muhammad Shafi Uri and Nasir Aslam Wani, Sat Sharma, Dr Nirmal Singh, Bali Bagat from BJP besides Hakim Muhammad Yasin, MY Trigami, GH Mir, Harsh Dev Singh. The PDP was represented in the meeting by CM Mehbooba Mufti as well as Revenue Minister, AR Veeri, Law Minister, Abdul Haq Khan, PDP senior leaders, Nizamuddin Bhat and Muzaffar Hussain Baig.
Congress Vice President, G N Monga, said that the party sought that it will not allow a compromise on the special status of the state and the law shouldnít violate the financial autonomy of the state ì We sought that the assembly session should be postponed,íí he said.
KV Correspondent
