Srinagar: Kashmir Trader and Manufacturing Federation (KTMF) led by Bashir Ahmad Rather Saturday staged protest against the government’s imminent decision of implementing Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the state.
The protesters led by the KTMF president, assembled at Srinagar’s Press Enclave and chanted anti-government slogans.
Rather while talking to KNS said that the government shouldn’t implement GST in the state as it will infringe the special status of JK, which it is enjoying.
He said that they already boycotted the meeting with the government to mark a protest against its implementation. “Government must clear their stand over it and we won’t allow any compromise with the state’s special status,” he said.
“Kashmir is an internationally-known dispute and bringing it under ‘one country, one tax’ regime is akin to fudging with its special status and that’s unacceptable to us,” Rather added.
KTMF president who had called for the shutdown today said, “All stakeholders should come forward and lodge their protest against the deceitful tactic of PDP-BJP government to erode Article 370.”
Hilal Ahmad Mandoo, a senior KTMF leader said that the implementation of GST in the state is against the special status of JK. “The GST implementation is against the service tax under section 5. The government must come clear about the integrate GST, which is not applicable for JK,” he added.
However, the protesters later dispersed peacefully. (KNS)
