With the commencement of the crucial meeting on a uniform Good and Service Tax (GST) in Srinagar today, the Centre signals its commitment towards the strife-torn state.
Srinagar was chosen to dispel the impression that the situation in the state has reached a point of no return, government sources said.
Led by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who also holds the additional portfolio of defence in the Centre, the meeting is being attended by the finance minister of all states, excluding a few northeastern states like Tripura, Sikkim, Orissa, Nagaland and Mizoram, at the at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Center (SKICC) on the banks of Dal lake. Participation of West Bengal finance minister is also said to be doubtful.
The GST meet assumes significance as the decision on the GST will impact people across India.
State Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu reportedly told a local daily the meeting was important because it would decide the tax rates on commodities for the whole of India.
''The meeting would give a sense of participation to J&K in the national policy-making,” he said.
Interestingly, Jammu and Kashmir, is yet to take a final call on whether to join the uniform GST regime.
The government, according to Drabu, is holding a special session of the state assembly to debate the proposed law on GST to protect the state’s constitutional position on taxing services. He said the state legislature would “approve the GST law which will be in consonance with the state’s existing constitutional position.”
In December, the government had constituted a committee for drafting a legislation within three months regarding joining the common GST regime.
The GST meet will also see more than 150 participants, including ministers and bureaucrats from Centre as well as states. Deputy chief ministers from Delhi, Gujarat, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh are also attending the meeting.
More than 150 journalists, both national and foreign, are covering the event.
Jaitley is scheduled to brief the press at 6.30 pm at Nehru Guest House at Chasmashahi after the meeting.
He held a one hour meeting this morning with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at her official residence Fair View.
The two leaders discussed the situation in Kashmir, especially growing students unrest and civil discord in south Kashmir.
Jaitley reached Kashmir with Army chief yesterday and held important discussions with security heads of various agencies.
The Army and police had carried out cordon and search operation yesterday in Shopian the second time in two weeks. Around 500 houses were searched in the operation.
Stringent security measures have been taken in and around the venue and the traffic. Police and para-military forces are maintaining a strict vigil in the city to thwart any militant attacks or protests.
The police have deployed additional men at various points along the route to SKICC, especially, from Dal lake SKICC.
At Nehru Park police is keeping a watch on all traffic and checking the vehicles. Further ahead at hotel Grand Palace, checks are being carried in private and public transport.
Police has deployed mobile units at several points along the lake to ensure no one comes close to the venue.
Additional security has been mobilised at Royal Spring Golf Course.
Most of the participants took the Grand Place route to reach the venue. The diginatores participating in the meeting will travel to Gulmarg for a short trip also.
