All-party panel meet on GST inconclusive

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 24

The first meeting of the all-party panel to discuss extension of the goods and services tax (GST) to J&K remained inconclusive today while the National Conference and the Congress stayed away from it, claiming “non-serious attitude” of the coalition government.

The meeting, held under the chairmanship of senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, suggested convening of an Assembly session for discussions, holding of further consultations with the involvement of the NC and the Congress and sending the law again to the state Cabinet for further discussions. The panel has sent its recommendations to the government, senior PDP leader Nizamuddin Bhat told The Tribune after the meeting.

Some of the members expressed concern over the non-participation of representatives of major parties and that the draft proposal of the GST law was not provided to the parties, sources said. However, Nizamuddin Bhat pointed out that “GST is a known law” and its amendment had been in public domain for the past one year. He also said as the GST did not impact the political and fiscal autonomy of the state, the Opposition’s stand was not logical. He recalled that the NC had been associated with the GST for the past seven years and its opposition to the law was only to make a political move.