The controversy over implementation of the New industrial policy continued to dominate the Lower House as the Opposition demanded the government should clear the confusion over it.When the proceedings in Question Hour began Thursday, the finance minister Dr Hasseb Drabu rose up from the Treasury Bench to give a statement in the House on GST and new Industrial policy.However, Drabu was confronted by Opposition members over the confusion on implementation of new industrial policy. NC’ MLA from Khanyar, Ali Muhammad Sagar, who had on Wednesday cornered the industries and commerce minister, Chandra Prakash Ganga on the policy, again sparred with the finance minister on the issue. Sagar was supported by Independent MLAs, Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen and M Y Tarigami, who too wanted the air be cleared over the policy.Clarifying the government’s position, Drabu said that the government has put there contentious issues to review while rest of the provisions of the policy stand implemented.
“If the opposition had gone through the Governor’s speech, it has been clearly mentioned that the state’s special status won’t be harmed. There has been continuous uncertainty in the state on Industrial Policy. Three contentious provisions have been put on hold which will be reviewed,” he said, adding that the provision of allotting land outside the industrial estates has been put on hold. Drabu said that government will address and notify these issues once the Buidget is passed by the Assembly.“Whatever changes will be made in the policy, accordingly the SROs will be issued in its effect at the end of this budget session. We will clearly address all these changes once state assembly passes the budget,” he said.The fresh controversy was created by industries minister Ganga, who on Wednesday had said that the policy stands implemented the state. But he had contradicted his chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, and his cabinet colleague and government spokesman, Naeem Akhtar, who have said that the policy is being revisited.
Sagar interrupted Drabu by saying, “Your Education minister has said that the policy has been put on hold where as you and Chander Prakash Ganga are saying that the policy stands implemented,” he said.Sagar said that the concerned minister should resign blaming him for misleading the house. “He has mislead the House and he should resign.”Yaseen soon after the beginning of the Question Hour contested the implementation of New industrial Policy in the state. “House Committee was made against SRO 105 which has not responded yet and now the government is saying that New Industrial policy stands implemented,” he said.On GST, the Finance Minister said that the GST regime has not provided any safeguard to the special status of the state.“The governments’ position on GST is clear that it has not provided any provisions to safeguard the special position of the state. I told the meeting the current GST law cannot be allowed to overrule the J&K laws,” he added.“I have suggested to form a special committee which will chalk out modalities as to how J&K can recover taxes under GST,” he said. The minister was clearing to the issue raised by Hakeem Yaseen when he said that Tamil Nadu has objected to the GST regime in a meeting held recently. (KNS)