Srinagar: Backing their alliance partner for having no dialogue with separatist leadership, People’s Democratic Party Saturday said that talks in surcharged atmosphere are not possible.
“We can’t blame them (BJP) when they refuse to talk to Hurriyat leaders. The atmosphere is not conducive for talks. Even in Agenda of Alliance it has been mentioned that talks with Hurriyat leaders will be conducted in peaceful environment,” PDP leader Dr Mehboob Beigh told news agency CNS. He however maintained that there is no substitute to talks. “You have to come forward for a dialogue. How long will you shy away from talks.”
When asked that BJP legislator Satpaul Sharman has said that implementation of Goods and Service Tax (GST) is a step towards Jammu and Kashmir’s integration with India, Mehboob Beigh said that BJP legislator is entitled to say anything.
“We had no option but to implement GST in the state as traders from Kashmir do business with rest of India. Out of the 47th presidential orders implemented in Jammu and Kashmir, the amendment related to GST is the only one which has been tabled in the Assembly. Earlier, Cabinet used to approve such matters and President of India used to issue the order. PDP-BJP Government for the first time discussed the issue in Assembly. Now it has become a convention. Besides, we managed to protect the Article 370,” Beigh said.
He said that discussing GST in the Assembly has empowered the House that had lost credibility after the autonomy resolution passed with a two-third majority was rejected by New Delhi. (CNS)
