Proposed GST hike for Kashmiri shawl will finish craft: Mehbooba Mufti

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti criticizes proposed GST increase on Kashmiri shawls, accuses Centre of harming Jammu and Kashmir's economy.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supremo Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday (December 21, 2024) said the proposed increase in GST for Kashmiri shawl would finish the craft and appealed to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to address the issue.

She also alleged that the Centre was trying to make the people of Jammu and Kashmir dependent solely on tourism.

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"The Kashmiri shawl is not just a means of livelihood for us but an identity of Jammu and Kashmir. It is famous all over the world. The (previous) National Conference government banned the Shahtoosh, which was our heritage. That also caused economic losses," Ms. Mehbooba told reporters.

"Today, when you increase GST on Kashmiri shawl to 28%, our art will automatically die," the PDP president added.

The former Chief Minister of the erstwhile State alleged efforts were being made to destroy Jammu and Kashmir by undertaking development work on horticulture land and imposing GST on the handicraft sector.

"These kept Jammu and Kashmir alive in its difficult times. I request Omar [Abdullah] that these are our assets, you have 50 MLAs, three MPs, for God's sake, tell us what you are doing to save our assets. What are you doing on the issue of increasing GST to 28%," she asked.