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Decks cleared for GST rollout in J&K

Opposition parties led by National Conference and Congress opposed the resolution while PDP, BJP supported it

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Overriding the opposition from traders and political parties, both houses of Jammu and Kashmir legislature, on Wednesday, passed the resolution on Goods and Service Tax (GST) "under the ambit of Article 370" thus clearing the decks for its roll out in the restive state.

Opposition parties led by National Conference (NC) and Congress opposed the resolution while PDP, BJP, and their allies supported it in both the Houses.

The resolution was passed after Finance Minister Haseeb A Drabu assured that implementing GST in the state comes under the ambit of Article 370.

Drabu said adequate safeguards for the state's special status, protecting consolidated fund, and special taxation powers of the state government are proposed to be incorporated into the Presidential Order to bring the state into the fold of the new tax regime.

"Under no circumstances will the state government amend Section 5 of the Constitution of J&K, which gives it special taxation powers. Such a move will open a Pandora's box, which will have implications on the special constitutional position of J&K in future," said Drabu in the J&K Assembly.

Expressing concerns over the declining trade in J&K due to uncertainty over GST, Drabu said only 1,000 truckloads of goods crossed the Lakhanpur Toll Post on July 4, down by half when compared with the figures of the corresponding period of last year.

He also mentioned that the state government is not under any pressure to extend GST to J&K.

WHO SUPPORTED

  • Opposition parties led by National Conference and Congress opposed the resolution while PDP, BJP supported it.
     
  • Resolution was passed after FM Drabu assured that implementing GST comes under Article 370.
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