Srinagar: Lashing out at Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh for threatening to pull out of the coalition government if Goods and Services Tax (GST) was not implemented in the state, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCC&I) alleged that the statement was made just to seek political mileage.
“We take a strong exception to the statement made by the Deputy Chief Minister, threatening to pull out from the coalition government if the GST is not implemented in the state from July 1, 2017,” KCC&I said in a statement issued here.
The statement said KCC&I President Mushtaq Ahmad Wani wished to remind Dr Singh that he in his position as the Deputy Chief Minister of the State and should be more conscious about the adverse implication of such statement.
“The statement, which could create divide between Jammu and the Kashmir regions of the state, has been made just to seek political mileage,” it alleged.
The KCC&I said that statements not conducive to establishing peace in the state, made by the partners of the government, should be avoided and the sensitive issues like GST be dealt with more responsibility by the government.
“It needs to be understood that adoption of GST in its present form in the state shall amount to clear violation of financial autonomy and special status of the state which KCC&I will oppose tooth and nail,” said the statement.
“The KCC&I made it a point that the statements made amount to blackmailing Kashmir and paving way for further unrest and 2008 like situation,” it said.
