Amid opposition, Assembly moves resolution on GST

For the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST), the ruling PDP-BJP government today moved a resolution before the Legislative Assembly even as the opposition parties claimed it was non-admissible and it lacked clarity on constitutional safeguards for the fiscal autonomy of the state.
The five-day special session of the Legislature, which started today, was convened to evolve a consensus over the extension of the GST to the state. Except J&K, the new tax regime was rolled out across the country on July 1.
Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu moved the resolution before the Assembly, seeking the House to resolve that the government may give consent to the adoption of the GST regime. “The GST may be adopted by the application of relevant amendments made to the Constitution of India in a modified manner to safeguard the existing special constitutional position of J&K in the Union of India and the legislative powers under the Constitution of J&K,” read the resolution.
Soon after the resolution was tabled, Speaker Kavinder Gupta allowed it, creating a pandemonium in the House. The opposition parties raised slogans against the government for “selling out the interests of the state.
” The members of opposition parties – the National Conference, the Congress and other one-member parties – wore black bands as a mark of protest. They termed the resolution a fraud and the last nail in the coffin of the state’s autonomy. The Speaker had to adjourn the session for nearly two hours after the parties created ruckus.
Senior NC leader Muhammad Shafi said the resolution was vague and should substantially discuss one particular issue. “If you have decided to revoke Article 370, then this (GST) is one step towards it. It will be followed by the uniform civil code,” Shafi said.
He said the government should clear how it would safeguard the special status after implementing the GST. “And whether there was any discussion between the state and Centre over the safeguarding of the state’s fiscal autonomy after implementing the GST,” he said. Congress leader Nawang Rigzin Jora said Section 5 of the state Constitution, which empowers the state government to levy taxes, could not be amended.
NC leader Devender Singh Rana said the GST implementation was the last nail in the coffin of Article 370. The resolution will be discussed in the Assembly in the next four days before it goes for voting for adoption.

Can lynch you, Minister tells NC MLA Srinagar
“I can lynch you here,” minister Imran Ansari told NC leader Devender Rana in the Assembly. Ansari claimed that while Rana was opposing the GST in the Assembly, he had already migrated his businesses to the new taxation regime. Responding to the accusation, the NC lawmaker said, “Maine tax ki chori nahi ki hai (I have not indulged in tax evasion).” To this, an infuriated Ansari said: “I can lynch you here. I know all your shady businesses.”