Farooq hits out at Mehbooba’s pitch for GST exemption for J&K

Srinagar: Main opposition National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah today lashed out at Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s pitch for exemption to the state’s handicraft, dry fruits and tourism industry form Goods and Service Tax (GST). Mr Abdullah, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) from Srinagar constituency, called Ms Mehbooba’s meeting with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley an attempt to hoodwink Kashmiris. “Either Ms Mehbooba had not even bothered to look at GST Bill before giving it a go ahead in the state Cabinet or she is clearly trying to befool Kashmiris. Asking for GST exemptions now after passing the bill is mere drama,” Mr Abdullah said in a workers meeting in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal. He said that it is beyond comprehension that a bill just passed by her government needs her to engage in parleys now. “When the whole state particularly the trading fraternity was up with apprehensions that GST will not augur well with the small and medium scale industries in the state, she held her stance as the biggest proponent of the law,” the NC president said. He expressed dismay over what he called a ‘deaf and blind’ government ignorant to the needs and aspirations of trader community in particular and people in general. “Which CM will bat for GST one day and the next day comes out and say ‘We are at loss because of GST’,” he asked He alleged that the conduct of the PDP-BJP regime has always been incoherent and confusing. “They run around like headless chicken and the state is suffering because of Ms Mehbooba’s inept handling of the CM office and her Cabinet,” he alleged. Reiterating his stance on resumption of dialogue process between India and Pakistan, Dr Abdullah said until and unless Kashmir issue is resolved, there will be no peace in the state. “I appeal both the countries to understand the gravity of the situation and initiate dialogue process immediately. And in that process all the stakeholders in the state must be taken on board,” he said. Dr Abdullah said the present regime at the centre must follow the policies of Vajpayee, who was a strong votary of dialogue process. “It was he (Vajpayee), who said that friends can be changed but not your neighbours in direct reference to Pakistan,” he added.