Jammu and Kashmir assembly adopts GST resolution, last state to do so

The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly adopted the Goods and Services Tax (GST) resolution during a special session on Wednesday.

Srinagar, July 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly adopted the Goods and Services Tax (GST) resolution during a special session on Wednesday.
The state assembly passed the landmark tax reform during a special session, after two days of heated exchanges and fiery debates between BJP members and the opposition.

State BJP chief Sat Sharma claimed that the revenues of Jammu and Kashmir would go up by Rs 10,000 crore annually after the implementation of GST.

However, opposition NC and Congress members had opposed the new tax regime in its current form and demanded a separate bill in the Assembly, which would safeguard the special taxation powers enjoyed by the state under Article 370 of the Constitution.

Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta expunged the "intimidating and un-parliamentary" words used by members during heated exchanges while discussing GST.

Gupta was ruling on a petition moved by opposition National Conference (NC) MLA Devender Rana, seeking an FIR against PDP minister Imran Ansari for his "intimidating" comments against him during a discussion on the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. "It is my hand-folded request to the members not to use un-parliamentary language. I apologies on behalf of those who used un-parliamentary words. The members should exercise restrain while responding to statements," he said.

Meanwhile, the discussion on the implementation of GST in the state continued for the second day as the BJP members and Independent MLA from Udhampur Pawan Gupta supported the extension of the 101st amendment to the Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir.

Ali Mohammad Sagar of the NC alleged that the centers' resolution on GST was an "attempt to erode the special status of Jammu and Kashmir".

"This resolution is for eroding the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, which is dangerous.

So far, there have been political attacks on the special status, now the attack is on the financial powers of the state," he said.

PTI