J&K Assembly is debating the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax in the state. The debate has triggered ruckus and shrill exchanges in the Assembly. Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu moved the resolution seeking suggestions from the legislators on how to implement the 101st amendment of the Indian Constitution in the state with modifications to ensure that the special status under Article 370 of the Constitution is not affected. Drabu read from the resolution which urged for the consent to be given to the adoption of GST regime by application of relevant amendments made to the Constitution of India in a modified form to safeguard existing constitutional position of J&K in the Union of India and the legislative powers under Constitution of J&K. The opposition, however, was not convinced. The veteran NC leader Mohammad Shafi Uri said that implementing 101st amendment of the constitution to J&K would also extend some taxes which were not earlier applicable to the state. Congress MLA Nawag Rigzin Jora too questioned the governments resolution.
However, while the discussion was going on inside the house, outside the government used harshest measures to suppress any dissent. Government arrested several trade leaders including president of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation Muhammad Yasin Khan. He, along with several others, was held to prevent him from leading an anti-GST protest. Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee, an alliance of trade bodies and civil society, called for Kashmir Bandh on Wednesday to protest the unlawful arrests of trade leaders and activists. Initially, the government even barred the press from carrying cameras and mobile phones inside the Assembly but withdrew the ban following boycott of the session by media men.
The government looks all set to implement the GST. Drabu is already on record to say that law could be extended to the state by July 6, an assertion that has detracted from the seriousness of the ongoing session.
J&K draws its powers to collect taxes from Section 5 of its own Constitution unlike other states which derive these from Article 42 of the Constitution of India. If GST is implemented in its present form, the state will lose its right to impose its own taxes and fix the rates, the power that is seen as one of the last vestiges of drastically eroded Article 370. There have already been 46th amendments to the Article 370 which have turned it into a shell without a seed, as once Drabu liked to phrase it. The GST in its current shape will be the 47th amendment and thus last nail in the autonomy.
In Kashmir, the GST issue has assumed two major dimensions. One, is the absolute opposition to the law’s direct extension to the state. The people want proper safeguards instituted to protect the special status. Another is the problem that the state’s businesses will face in the absence of an institutional mechanism to deal with the GST at the national level. The imports to the state from other states will face double taxation and shoot up the prices. More so, when Valley produces little on its own. But for now this prospect doesn’t bother anybody. The protection of a feature of Valley’s constitutional autonomy overrides every other consideration. This is the popular sentiment in Valley. A true democratically elected government will go by this. But sadly this is not the situation in Kashmir. Kashmiri parties in power see New Delhi as the source of their power than the people who elect them.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
ACT NOW |
MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |