J&K govt on same page over GST rollout, says MoS
Ahead of the special session of the state legislature on July 4, the minister of state in Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday said there are no differences between the coalition partners Peoples Democratic Party and Bharatiya Janata Party over the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
“All political parties have now realised that the GST is in the interest of the state. Both the coalition partners are on the same page and there are no differences,” he told reporters here after the BJP’s core group closed-door meeting, attended by the party national general secretary Ram Madhav and state in-charge Avinash Rai Khanna.
When asked about the delay in implementing the new tax reform, Singh said, “There were a few hiccups and obstacles raised by certain opposition parties out of their political compulsions, but they have now realised that there is no other way than to implement the GST.”
Regarding the Opposition’s objection to the GST, he said, the parties stand exposed.
Speaking on the situation in the Valley, Dr Singh said, “There has been selective condemnation of killings and violence, but the saving grace is that the common people of Kashmir… the youth of Kashmir…are awakened and are not going to take it anymore”.
The minister further said, “The tendency to get attention via India bashing or anti-India activism or anti-India intellectualism has outlived its purpose. People are not going to take it anymore.”
NC WARNS GOVT OVER PASSAGE OF BILL
Opposition National Conference (NC) on Sunday warned the Jammu & Kashmir government of severe consequences if it implemented the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in its present form, saying the party would not accept the new tax regime till adequate safeguards were put in place.
“Government should not implement GST in its present form. But if they still do it, they will have to face the consequences,” said senior NC leader Abdul Rahim Rather .