Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 12: Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee (JKCC) today sought withdrawal of Presidential Order on Goods and Services Tax (GST) and roll-back of the tax law passed in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature and threatened to launch an agitation if its demand is not accepted.
The JKCC is an amalgam of trade bodies of Valley and has been spearheading agitation against the GST. Explaining the process through which GST was discussed and finally passed, the JKCC said that the Government should withdraw Presidential Order, roll back GST law passed in the legislature and declare J&K as “free economic zone (FEZ)”, a statement issued here said.
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“In the event of Government not acceding to our demands, within a week’s time, the JKCC will be forced to continue its agitation and will intensify it across the State at all levels till our demands are met,” it said. The Committee said that the Government “surrendered” the power to pursue its own fiscal policy and the State Legislature and State Cabinet have been reduced to zero on financial matters.
“The absolute powers on taxation have been surrendered to the GST council. J&K had absolute powers to tax services by its own law. This exclusive authority has also been surrendered. J&K has been reduced to dependence from that of autonomy. We have lost greatly politically, hence constitutionally,” it said, adding “This is the 47th deceit inflicted upon the people of J&K and is the last nail in the coffin of financial autonomy”.
“The Government is making unsuccessful attempts to malign the image of traders with an aim to create a wedge amongst themselves besides attempts are also afoot to mislead consumers,” the JKCC added.
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