BJP State Spokesperson Prof. Virender Gupta asked the State Government to give its nod to GST implementation in J&K state through cabinet approval or by issuance of ordinance to protect the interests of consumers, industrialists and the business community and save the state from the present dilemma of serious apprehensions and implications in case of non-implementation of GST. He was critical of the Congress party for its confusing stand, for toeing separatist line on the GST while ignoring the voice of the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions. He said that the centre leadership of the party supported the resolution of introducing GST at the national level in the parliament and all the states ruled by the party have given approval to its implementation.
Prof. Virender also criticized National Conference and CPM state leadership for raising the bogy of dilution of article 370. He said that during the regime of NC about two dozen amendments were made in the J&K constitution for paving way to the implementation of Central laws. He also tried to draw the attention of the NC and others that most of the tax laws of the Indian union are already applicable to the state and GST in no way is going to effect the autonomy of the state as it exists today. He said that none of the leaders of the opposition made any concrete suggestion in the All Party Consultative Group about the ways and means for implementation of GST in the state except for pleading about the safeguards to protect fiscal autonomy.
Prof. Virender cautioned that in case of non adoption of GST the state would be in the state of economic and financial chaos and would adversely affect the inter-state trade. He added that the consumers of J&K would be worst hit due to double taxation as it would make everything costly and financially burden the consumers.
The State Spokesperson again stressed upon the government to find ways and means to take decision about implementation of GST before Ist of July and save the state from the economic chaos of twin taxation.
