SrinagarThe All Party Consultative Group constituted by the state Government to evolve consensus over GST implementation in J&K met here this afternoon under the chairmanship of former Deputy Chief Minister and Member Parliament, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh.
The members of the All Party Consultative Group include Abdul Rahim Rather from National Conference; M Y Tarigami from CPI(M), Nizam-ud-Din Bhat from PDP, Advocate Sunil Sethi from BJP, Aijaz Ahmad Khan from Congress, Hakeem Muhammad Yasin (PDF), Ghulam Hassan Mir (DNP) and Independent MLAs Pawan Gupta and Sheikh Abdul Rashid.
The invitation for the meeting was extended to the members of the All Party Consultative Group by the Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu on Thursday.
Except the representatives from National Conference and Congress, all other members of the Consultative Group were present at the meeting which was also attended by Minister for Law & Justice, Abdul Haq, Minister for Finance, Dr Haseeb Drabu, Chief Secretary, B B Vyas, Finance Secretary, Navin Kumar Choudhary, Commissioner Commercial Taxes, M I Khateeb and other senior officers of the Finance & Law Departments.
At the onset, on the request of the chair, the meeting observed two-minute silence as mark of respect for Dy SP Mohammad Ayub Pandit who was lynched to death near Central Jamia Masjid Srinagar during Shab-e-Qadr.
The meeting held threadbare discussions over the legal, legislative, financial and economic aspects of the GST regime with the Chairman explaining in detail the nuances of the new tax regime.
There was a general consensus in the meeting that non-implementation of GST regime would trigger economic and financial chaos in the State with the inter-state trade vis-a-vis J&K taking a big hit.
The meeting, at the same time, called for allaying the apprehensions and misconceptions that have been passed on to the people for political expediencies.
Speaking at the conclusion of the meeting, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh said that there was unanimity in the forum on either of the three paths to be followed on GST which include taking further time to build wider political consensus, taking the matter to the legislature and allowing the state cabinet to take a call on the issue in light of JKs special constitutional position.
This is the second attempt by the government to evolve consensus over GST implementation in the state. Earlier, an All Party Meeting chaired by chief minister Mehbooba Mufti was convened on the issue on June 13.
NC, Congress Boycott APC Meet on GST
In the previous meeting on this issue the chief minister committed that before any further meetings are called on this issue, the government would share its proposal and all supporting documents with the participants well in advance, National Conference on Saturday said.
NC spokesman told KNS that the government has failed to do so, making it impossible for All Party to finalise its stand on what the government is proposing. Therefore was not possible for our Party to attend this meeting.
Congress also refrained from the meeting convened on GST in Srinagar today citing the reason as non-serious attitude of the Govt with regard to implementation of GST. The Party also blamed PDP BJP coalition for being in a State of confusion over GST, as a result, the trade bodies in the entire state were in dilemma.
Party Spokesperson in a statement to KNS said that Congress Party has decided to refrain from the meeting, saying that Govt has failed to circulate draft proposal, as it was agreed that the draft resolution of GST would be circulated to Congress and other parties, enabling them (Opposition) to debate and discuss the GST at length inorder to evolve a consensus, but this is unfortunate that no such proposal from the Govt side has come out so far, which reflects that both PDP BJP are in a state of confusion and has no roadmap on GST.
Expressing surprise over the non-serious attitude of the Govt, the Party Spokesperson said that despite the pressing demand from opposition for draft proposal, nothing was done from the Govt Side, which has sent confusing signals among the entire political spectrum in the State.
No fissures in coalition: Rafi Mir
PDP General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir today said that there are no fissures in the coalition and BJP was on board in seeking consensus of stakeholders on implementation of GST.
Mir, in a statement said that PDP led government has widened the sphere of talks by actively involving stakeholders, opposition parties and civil society in opinion building.
He said that present government doesn’t want to implement any decision in haste and seeking confidence of stake holders was imperative.
Reiterating that coalition partners have full confidence in leadership of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Mir said that interest of the people and the interest of state would be balanced by a prudent decision of the government.
Mir exuded confidence that the government will deliver its full term under the leadership of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
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