Srinagar: MLA Langate, Engineer Rashid, while addressing Finance Minsiter Haseeb Drabu, on Tuesday regarding the arrest of trade leaders including Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) chairman Mohammad Yaseen Khan, told him that “on one hand you tell them that Goods And Services Tax (GST) is beneficial for them and on the other hand you get them arrested.”
“The JK Legislature is the most empowered house in the country, The government is ready for a debate on GST within the constitution of India as well as the state,” Drabu said.
While Rasheed was calling GST “a conspiracy to eradicate the special status of the state by the implementation of the new tax regime”, Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu continued with his opening remarks.
He said that the government is ready for a debate on the GST within the constitution of India as well as the state.
The government on Wednesday said that it will protect the special status of the state and will have a separate GST that will not erode the fiscal and constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir.
“There are apprehensions regarding GST all over the country, not just in Kashmir. We have a few more apprehensions and all that should be discussed. Every member of the house has the right to discuss whatever apprehensions they have,” Drabu said.
Rashid while confronting the Finance Minister said, “The trade leaders are arrested. They are not criminals, they are honourable people. Let them go. If this is how we are going to treat them, we don’t have any right to sit here,”
While pointing out that the JK Legislature is the most empowered house in the country, Drabu added, “The government is ready and open to discussions and debate on the bill within the constitution of India and the state as well.”
