Srinagar: Even as government has called for Assembly session to discuss extension of Goods and Services Tax (GST) to the state, the Opposition political parties, National Conference and Congress Monday held meetings here to deliberate on how to corner the government in the legislature.
While NC held a Core Group meeting today here under the chairmanship of the party president, Farooq Abdullah, the Congress met under its state head G A Mir at his residence.
“Our stand is clear that any attempt to dilute or erode autonomy of the state will be opposed tooth and nail,” NC general secretary, Ali Muhammad Sagar told KNS after attending the core group meeting.
Sagar, who is legislator from Khanyar and member of the core group, said that the party discussed the implications of extension of GST in its present form to the state.
“Our party president clearly told us that National Conference should defend the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and will not allow its erosion in any circumstances,” Sagar said.
The NC leader said that in the Assembly session on GST, the party will stick to its stand and oppose the extension of GST to the state without safeguards to the fiscal and constitutional autonomy.
The NC Core Group members include Abdul Rahim Rather, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mohammad Shafi Uri, Mian Altaf, Choudhary Ramzan, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Devender Singh Rana, Nasir Aslam Wani, Sakina Itoo, Surjit Singh Slathia, Ajay Sadhotra, Qamar Ali Aakhoon, Rashpal Singh, Javed Rana and Sajjad Kitchloo among others.
NC provincial president, Nasir Aslam Wani told KNS that the Legislative Party meeting is to be held today evening where all the MLAs and MLCs will be present to discuss the strategy on GST in the assembly and how to oppose its extension in the present form.
Meanwhile, Congress held legislative party meeting which was attended by all its legislators, including MLAs and MLCs.
“Government has no roadmap on how it is going to implement GST without eroding the constitutional and fiscal position of the state. We have been time and again asking the government to explain to the people and opposition on how it is going to extend GST with modifications. And, we will vociferously seek explanation from the ruling parties in the assembly,” senior Congress leader and MLC, G N Monga told KNS.
He said that Congress’ stand to oppose GST in its present form is known to people and the party will stick to its stand in the assembly. (KNS)
