The Opposition National Conference (NC) on Sunday reiterated that it would oppose implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Jammu & Kashmir unless constitutional, administrative and economic safeguards were not ensured to protect the special constitutional position of the State in Indian union.
Speaking to reporters former Finance Minister and senior NC leader Abdul Rahim Rather said the implementation of GST in its present form would rob the State of its financial autonomy. “What is the fun of calling a special session of the legislature when the Government has made up its mind to implement GST,” he said.
The party said that the State Government can tide over the impending crisis by taking the Central Government, law and Finance departments and the legal experts into confidence to arrive at an acceptable solution.
The State Government has reconvened a special session of the Assembly from July 4 to discuss the GST issue before according concurrence of the legislature to the 101st Constitutional Amendment that implemented the GST across India. The J&K is the only State where GST was not implemented on July 1 due to the constitutional hurdles in the process. The Opposition parties say that the implementation of GST in its present form would erode the special status of Jammu & Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian constitution.
He said the Government must be open for discussion to find means to the crisis. “There is solution to every problem. If the Government is willing to discuss, we can offer alternatives,” he said adding the party is not essentially opposed to GST implementation but only emphasises on constitutional safeguards.
“The Government has told the opposition that it will present the proposal to safeguard special status in the Assembly session. But don’t the traders and people have right to knowIJ” he asked.
Asked whether the National Conference would then boycott the Assembly session, Rather said the party’s legislature party, which would meet in a day or two, would take a call on that.
“The Government of India should listen to us, find solution and resolve the issue. We have no issue if the Government has any proposal but they should ensure that it does not erode the special position of Jammu & Kashmir,” Rather who has also served as the chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers.
He said that during his tenure as member and chairman of the empowered committee, he has always highlighted the special status of Jammu & Kashmir and sought its safeguards during the implementation of GST.