Category: Business

Business

GST is dead and buried in J&K

Editor

The people in the rest of India often wonder: why is Kashmir simmering and who is responsible for all the mess here? The simplest answer: it is the Kashmiri politician who is at the root of this problem. Any evidence needed? Just look at the way politicians conspired to kill the GST regime, making it an issue as the country’s onslaught on Kashmir’s autonomy. The internal politics of Kashmir-centric parties in their unhealthy competition to sound louder as champions of Kashmir lands the issue in the lap of separatists. The…

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Sidharth Malhotra shoots for Aiyaary in Gulmarg, Pahalgam

Editor

After staying away from picturesque Valley following the unrest in 2016, Bollywood has returned to Kashmir with Hindi movie star Sidharth Malhotra having shot in beautiful locales of Gulmarg and Pahalgam recently for his upcoming movie ‘Aiyaary’. The resumption of Bollywood shooting has been termed a welcome move by the tourism players in Kashmir, who have been facing the brunt of negative publicity by some sections of national media. Last year, as per tourism officials, various film projects which were scheduled to be shot in Kashmir were cancelled due to…

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Tourism Kashmir in Dire Straits

Editor

Kashmir and tourism are more often taken as synonymous terms.As the valley of Kashmir is rich with scenic natural beauty that has no other analogy in the world. It is rightly called ‘paradise on earth’. Cradled in the lap of splendid mountains of the Himalayas, Kashmir is the most gorgeous place on earth. On visiting the Valley of Kashmir, Jehangir, a renowned Mughal King, is said to have exclaimed: “If there is paradise anywhere on earth, it is here, it is here, and it is here. But currently With every…

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LPG consumers in Kashmir deprived of gas subsidy

Editor

Domestic gas consumers in Kashmir complain that their LPG subsidy amount is not being forwarded to their bank account from last several months. While the consumers blame the oil marketing companies of depriving them of their subsidy, as these OMC do not forward the details to National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). However, the OMC say that they forward the information on time and it is due to other reasons that the subsidy payment gets delayed. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) which is an umbrella organization for all retail…

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State won’t surrender special powers, assures Haseeb Drabu: GST Row

Editor

A day before the crucial all-party meeting on the goods and services tax (GST), businessmen and hoteliers of the Kashmir valley met Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu and were yet again given the assurance that the new law would not have an effect on J&K’s special status. The marathon meeting with the Finance Minister that lasted around three hours comes a day after the business community met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, where they unanimously opposed the extension of the GST to the state, fearing it would affect Article 370. “Our stand…

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Govt to promote pilgrimage tourism with renewed push: Nirmal Singh

Editor

Government has decided to use social media to attract the Amarnath Yatra pilgrims to the potential tourist destinations and prolong their stay in the state. Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh, while reviewing the arrangements for the annual yatra here today, asked the tourism department to reach out to the pilgrims through social media to invite them to the places of attraction both in Kashmir and Jammu division. “The govt should keep record of pilgrims including their phone numbers at the time of registration, many also get short period SIM…

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Valley bizmen oppose GST, Mehbooba allays fears over Art 370

Editor

Discussion with Finance Minister Drabu today, all-party meet tomorrow Top businessmen and hoteliers of the Kashmir valley today opposed the extension of the goods and services tax (GST) to J&K during a meeting with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. A delegation that included Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) president Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, J&K Hoteliers Club (JKHC) chairman Mushtaq Chaya and Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) chairman Mohammad Yaseen Khan unanimously opposed the implementation of the GST, saying it would erode the financial autonomy of J&K. “We all opposed the GST…

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NC leaders call on Guv, seek APM on GST

Editor

The National Conference (NC) has urged the Governor to advise the state government to call an all-party meeting to have an extensive discussion on various aspects of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) being rolled out in the country from July 1. The delegation, led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, conveyed to the Governor that an all-party meeting would allay the fears and concerns of various stakeholders and put the entire concept in public domain for an open debate. The delegation apprised the Governor of their concerns relating to…

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Valley traders seek debate on new tax regime

Editor

Despite assurance from the government that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will not impact J&K’s special status, the Kashmir valley’s business community and tourism players are seeking a thorough debate before the new tax regime gets implemented. Besides debating the ramifications of the act over the state’s own financial authority, businessmen want to know the fate of the special tax concessions enjoyed by J&K on account of being a tourist destination. “We have been getting special benefits such as exemption of service tax for the hotel industry. VAT, too,…

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2 lakh devotees secure Amarnath yatra registration for 2017

Editor

Nearly two lakh pilgrims have secured advance registration through the designated bank branches, group registration facility and booking of helicopter tickets for this year’s annual Amarnath yatra beginning from June 29. This information was given to Governor NN Vohra, Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), by Umang Narula, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the shrine board, at a review meeting here today. The registration of pilgrims is being provided from March 1 this year through 437 designated branches of Punjab National Bank, J&K Bank and YES Bank, located…

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