National Conference provincial president, Nasir Aslam Wani, Tuesday said that the government has agreed to defer the Assembly session after concerns were raised by it that the law violates the special status of the state.

Talking about the outcome of the meeting, Wani said, that  the NC will oppose the draft legislation bill on GST if it does not safeguard the fiscal and political autonomy of the state. ìThe outcome of the meeting was that the government agreed to defer the scheduled four day Assembly session on GST beginning on 17th of this month. The government will hold a obituary session on 17th and then will defer the session. We demanded to form an expert committee which will review the GST bill and its applicability on fiscal and political autonomy of the state,î Wani said.

Interestingly, the opposition insisted for deferment of the Special session called by the government from 17-20 of this month. The opposition leaders said that the government agreed to postpone the session and will hold further wider reviews and debates on GSTís impact on fiscal and political autonomy of the state.

CPI(M) leader, M Y Tarigami, said that he asked the government to explain its point of view on GST and its applicability on the stateís tax and fiscal position. ìIf the GST is extended to the state without holding broader review and consensus, it will lead a big blow to our fiscal autonomy. We are for reforms in tax but we should form our laws to safeguard our fiscal and constitutional autonomy,î Tarigami said.

ìThere was no consensus in the meeting,î he said, adding that government should form a group of economic experts to review the draft bill and central draft bill to explore its applicability and impact on Jammu and Kashmir.

Congress leader G N Monga said that he vehemently said that Congress will not compromise on the fiscal and constitutional autonomy of the state. ìAssembly session will be deferred till there is clarity on GST and its impact on the fiscal and constitutional autonomy of the state,î Monga said.

PDP General Secretary Nizam-u-Din Bhat said that the  opposition leaders demanded that the Special Assembly session on GST should be postponed till there is a broader consensus on its extension to the state. ìChief Minister told the leaders of opposition parties that the government has no hesitation in deferring the Special Session on GST,î Bhat said.

Though the session will be held on 17th but the Business Advisory Committee will decide on the same day about deferring the session. When the meeting began, Mehbooba expressed her gratitude to the leaders of the opposition for attending the meeting.

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