The time when the speaker assembly Kavinder Gupta has adjourned the assembly session convened on implementation of GST to help government build a consensus among all the political parties, the BJP ally of PDP in the Mehbooba led coalition government according to some newspaper reports is mounting pressure on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to facilitate issuance of an ordinance on GST by governor N N Vohra till the passing of a widely acceptable legislation on GST by the assembly. Strange it is on one hand PDP the major ally is trying to evolve a consensus is trying to build a consensus over GST row but BJP the other ally is trying to force Chief Minister to take the ordinance route with the intent of furthering its agenda of eroding the already special status granted to the state under article 370 of the Indian constitution. The BJP is so much blocking the process of consultations required for consensus that the party is using all illogical methods to delay the issuance of a formal order on the constitution of an ally party committee (APC) for consensus on GST by the Chief Minister. The meetings of the PDP’s Member Parliament Muzaffar Hussain Baig who is likely to be tipped head of the all party committee (APC) and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on GST row are sufficient enough to indicate that BJP is forcing its ally PDP to take ordinance route on GST. Any surrender over the issue of GST ordinance by PDP will be tantamount to undermining the authority of the Chief Minister and erosion of financial autonomy through autocratic means. Though Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has assured the assembly that she is happy to see dialogue and democracy getting support from people of all hues but her willingness to take the ordinance route on GST at the instance of BJP the ally will undermine the credibility of the assembly the highest institution of democracy and the importance of dialogue the forum for which will be All Party Committee (APC) proposed by the government for settling the ongoing row over Goods and Services Tax (GST).
It is for PDP and BJP to build a consensus on the implementation of GST through assembly the highest democratic institution in the state and not the ordinance which will be big blow to the idea of constitution of an all party committee (APC) an ideal forum for dialogue.
To clear the air over ordinance on GST row it has become imperative for the government to formally issue an official communication on the constitution and composition of the All Party Committee (APC) and refute the reports about the possibility of an issuance of an ordinance on GST by Governor N N Vohra. Delay in the constitution of the all party committee (APC) will result in delay in the implementation of GST in Jammu & Kashmir state through consensus with the mandate of the state assembly the highest democratic institution in the state. It is for PDP and BJP to build a consensus on the implementation of GST through assembly the highest democratic institution in the state and not the ordinance which will be big blow to the idea of constitution of an all party committee (APC) an ideal forum for dialogue.
