BJP State Spokesperson Prof. Virender Gupta condemned the role of Congress party on GST and blamed its State unit for betraying no only the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions but for working against the national interests. He said that on one side its leaders blaming the PDP-BJP government for pushing state into chaos and confusion for deliberate delay over the implementation of GST regime in the state and advising the state government to pave the way for the extension of GST through presidential order by giving its concurrence whereas on the other side the president of the state Congress party opposing the implementation of GST as it would erode the autonomy of the state granted under Article 370. He said that legislature of Congress party in the state assembly preferred to play second fiddle role to National Conference and the separatists during the discussion on GST in the assembly: Nawang Rigzin Jora apprised the bill on GST introduced by the state government and said that it is violation of sections 3 and 5 of J&K constitution, another MLA of Congress party GM Saroori described the resolution as anti-people and anti-traders and asked the government to bring State’s own legislation on GST.
Prof. Virender criticized Congress members for remaining mute spectator to Sheikh Abdul Rashid remark, calling Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory, as if the members were in consonance with Abdul Rashid remarks.
The spokesperson said that it is unfortunate that the Congress party which remained in power in the Centre and in the state and is considered as the main opposition party at the national level should adopt the role of siding with the separatists and the parties having anti-national agenda. He further expressed that it would be unfortunate for the Congress party to neglect the sentiments and interests of its core constituencies of Jammu and Ladakh regions and follow the Kashmir centric policy.
Prof. Virender questioned those who talk of financial autonomy of the state when the state has always to depend upon the Centre grants not only for the development activities but also to pay salaries to its employees. He added that it looks mockery when those leaders who siphoned out their shares out of the Centre grants meant for the development activities, talk of financial autonomy of the state.
The Spokesperson said that GST is beneficial for the state economy for the traders and for all sections of the society and added that it would provide transparency in the taxation system and curb the corruption.
