LA Session to be stormy as Opposition hardens stand over GST
The special session of legislative assembly (LA) which has been reconvened by the government to clear the goods and services tax (GST) today is likely to be fiery as the Opposition National Conference and Congress have continued with their relentless attack on the government for pushing with the central GST to dilute the autonomy of the state.
While former Finance Minister and NC leader, Abdul Rahim Rather has warned the government of consequences if the GST was applied to the state without taking care of the special constitutional position of the state, Congress today decided to adopt a hard posture in case the GST law erodes the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir.
A meeting of the Congress MLA and MLC’s was presided over by the party president, G A Mir, today where it was decided that the party will adopt a hard posture in case the government goes ahead with the law that violates the special constitutional position of the state.
Congress Vice President, G N Monga, said that the party will not allow any compromise on the autonomy of the state.
“Our stand is very clear that we will not allow the erosion of autonomy. We have decided to attend the Assembly Session to see what the government has to present in the Assembly over GST,’’ he said.
On Sunday, Rather, while addressing a press conference said that any tampering with the special constitutional position of the state will have adverse impact. He also questioned the need for holding the Session when the government had already decided to enact the GST law, referring to the statement of Finance Minister, Haseeb Drabu, that the GST law will be imposed in the state from 6 July.
State government has called the Assembly Session from tomorrow to clear the goods and services tax (GST) after consensus eluded in the all party meeting which was held last week on Thursday.
As per the calendar which was issued by the Assembly Secretariat Speaker, Kavinder Gupta, in the exercise of powers conferred upon him by the constitution of the state the Assembly Session has been reconvened from 4th July, 10 am. The Session was earlier adjourned sine die as the Opposition protested the implementation of the GST in the state, contending that it will violate the special status of the state.
A notification which was issued by the Secretary of the Legislative Assembly, M R Singh, read that under third proviso to rule 16 of rules of procedure and conduct of business in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative Assembly the Assembly Session was being reconvened.
KV Correspondent
