Says state hasn’t disappointed people of country, hails Central support
Describing it as a “golden day” in the history of the state Assembly, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today lauded the role of the BJP in supporting the coalition’s Agenda of Alliance as the state legislature passed the state goods and services tax (SGST) Bill here today.
Addressing the Legislative Council on the conclusion of the special session after both Houses passed the SGST, the Chief Minister said: “The whole country was waiting for J&K’s decision (on the implementation of GST). We have not disappointed the people of the country…. We have won the war….”
The Chief Minister said the Central government had supported the state by approving the recommendations made in the draft to implement the GST in J&K, which enjoys special status under Article 370. Mehbooba hailed the efforts of President Pranab Mukherjee and the bold initiatives taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the state.
The Chief Minister said it was for the first time in the history of J&K that the extension of an Amendment to the Constitution was taken up for discussion before being implemented in the state as “even good laws” extended earlier were treated with suspicion. She said there had been “backdoor entries” in the past, but in future that would not be repeated.
Earlier, the Upper House passed the SGST Bill moved by Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu by a voice vote, while Congress and National Conference members staged a walkout accusing the government of “not holding a discussion” on the Bill.
