PDP devoured State of taxing powers, now CM begging before Delhi: Opp
Srinagar: Days after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley for exemption to some tradable items, the Opposition today said that the PDP “devoured” the state of taxing powers and is now “begging” before the centre for relaxations.
Opposition National Conference General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar said that PDP compromised for power and eroded Jammu and Kashmir’s fiscal and special autonomy.
“The party surrendered the power of the State legislature to tax and grant exemptions to local industry to the Parliament just to remain in good books of BJP at the Centre. PDP did not think about our industries and traders. NC protested against the GST extension to the state knowing how hard the new tax regime will cripple our economy and business. Today, we are proved right,” Sagar told KNS.
He said that the party will raise its voice in support of the traders and artisans of the state for exemptions.
“The chief minister is going to New Delhi begging before Finance minister Arun Jaitley for exemptions to industry and trade when the state had enough powers to grant these exemptions and relaxations,” he said.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti met the union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on Thursday and sought continuation of tax exemptions and remissions to several local products from the State.
Mehbooba specifically sought tax exemption for Walnut and Almond (including giri and allied produce), handicrafts (produced from local artisans and craftsmen), wood allied industry (including wood seasoning, carving, processing), handmade Willow and Wicker industry, local sports manufacturing industry (including willow bat industry), Saffron (and other dry fruits and spices from the State).
Congress president for the state, G A Mir said that it is the beginning of the negative fallout of GST on business and trade in the state.
“Chief Minister will have to beg before the centre government for exemptions which will not be an easy thing to do. The Center will have to decide about exemptions in GST council and the council comprises of 30 states. If one state is given exemptions, rest of the states will be on roads,” Mir told KNS.
He said that Congress raised these issues with government during the meetings on GST. “Our Finance Minister would these issues will be ‘taken care of’. Now, he is running away from it and chief minister is begging before New Delhi,” he said.
He said by GST PDP and BJP devoured the state of its taxing and fiscal powers.
“Now, everything will come from and will be decided by Delhi,” he said.
Meanwhile, the trades, especially in handicrafts sector, are mulling to protests as their business has suffered after the new tax regime. (KNS)
