Srinagar: Amid complete shutdown against the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the state, the authorities Saturday foiled joint protest rally of trade bodies and detained scores of leaders including Kashmir Traders and Manufacturing Federation (KTMF) president, Muhammad Yasin Khan when they tried to march towards Regal Chowk.
The trade bodies including KTMF, KEA, transporters and others assembled at clock tower (Ganta Ghar) here and raised anti-GST and anti-Govt slogans while holding the placards and banners.
The protesters during the sit-in said that they are against one tax one India and won’t allow any compromise on the larger interests of Jammu and Kashmir, which enjoys the special status.
According to KNS correspondent, KTMF president, Muhammad Yasin Khan alleged that the Finance Minister, Dr Haseeb A Drabu is trying to divide business community to meet his ‘sinister motives’ with an aim to implement of GST in the state.
Khan while talking to the reporters here also clarified that he has not applied for the GST number.
“The number which is being circulated in the media has been generated by the state government itself, as has been done in case of thousands of other traders of Kashmir who have a commercial tax number, but never applied for GST,” Khan said.
Khan said the taxation authorities have themselves generated temporary GST numbers for the traders registered with the central taxation department. “This is a sinister move of the government to discredit us for the sake of it. I have not applied for GST anywhere and if it’s proved that I applied for any such number, I will quit business and the business fraternity forever,” Khan said.
He appealed the trade community to remain united to defeat the ‘sinister moves’.
“We won’t allow government to implement the GST in the state and there can be no compromise on the larger interests of Jammu and Kashmir, which enjoys the special status,” he said, adding that the government can implement the law here but that should be amended according to the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.
Khan also appealed the civil society to come forward for a joint strategy to counter the sinister moves.
Meanwhile, the trade bodies after holding sit-in tried to march towards Regal Chowk.
However, as soon as the protesters reached near SRTC bus stand, police swung into action and detained scores of trade members including Khan.
The detained traders were later lodged at Kothi Bagh Police Station.
Notably, a complete shutdown was today observed across the Valley against the government’s ‘imminent decision’ of implementing the GST in the state.
The shutdown call was given by the various trade bodies here to mark a protest against the government, who according to the traders are trying to infringe the special status of JK by implementing the GST in the state. (KNS)
