Welcoming the passing of GST resolution by both the houses of the J&K legislature, Former State President & Rajya Sabha MP Shamsher Singh Manhas has stated that despite best efforts of the NC-Congress combine to stall the proceedings of the two houses and oppose the introduction of GST in the State, right has prevailed over the wrong. He said that introduction of GST regime in the State is big victory for the common man since he would be benefitted the most. In fact, it is win-win situation for all except the tax evaders who will find it difficult to evade tax under the new regime since everything is going to be online. He complimented the legislators of BJP-PDP for successfully countering the misinformation campaign launched by the opposition for arousing public passions in the Valley at the behest of separatist and anti-national forces and unitedly passing the Resolution thus saving the State from a virtual financial chaos.
Manhas was also critical of the NC-Congress combine for shying away from a debate on the floor of the house and instead resorting to agitation politics outside and inside the House ignoring the interests of the traders of other two regions of the state who were pressing for immediate adoption of GST. It clearly brings to fore the blatant regional and communal agenda of these two parties stated The MP. Despite claiming to be the representatives of all three regions of the State, their hollowness, insincerity, disloyalty and ‘couldn’t care attitude’ for the people of Jammu, Ladakh has been totally exposed and the people of these regions will not spare them for their continued neglect of the interests of these regions lamented Shamsher.
Further exposing the dual face of these parties, Shamsher Singh Manhas said that it was under their previous regimes that almost all items of the Union List of the Constitution of India and many central laws were made applicable to the State with their concurrence and now they are harping about the special status and separate constitution of the State just to play to the galleries and please the separatists who are paid agents of Pakistan. We have always welcome the steps taken for total integration of the State with the Union of India and there is no dilution in our stance. Talking of the separate constitution, Manhas reminded the opposition of the Supreme Court judgement of December 2016 on SARFAESI Act which stated, “J&K has no vestige of sovereignty outside the Constitution of India and its own Constitution, which is subordinate to the Constitution of India……..they (residents of the state) are governed first by the Constitution of India and also by the Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir”. He said the supremacy of the Constitution of India can neither be denied nor challenged.
The introduction of GST will ensure total economic integration of the State with the rest of the country which will benefit consumers, traders and industrialists. Expressing his happiness the MP said, “It will also herald the State into ‘One Nation One Market’ and ‘One Nation One Tax’ regimes, with this there will be common tax and one market from Leh to Lakshadweep, Srinagar to Shillong and Jammu to Jamnagar”.
