Proposed GST hike not a speculation: Haseeb Drabu to Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, Dec 21: Former finance minister Haseeb Drabu has criticised Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying the proposed GST hike on garments “is neither a rumour or speculation”.

Responding to Omar Abdullah’s statement, in which he said that GST hike on textiles was not discussed, Drabu said: “It was neither a rumour nor a speculation. GoM of the GST Council on rate rationalisation (convenor: Samrat Chaudhary, DCM, Bihar) deliberated and proposed a hike to 28 % for garments costing above ₹10,000.”

“Under the HSN classification shawls come under the category of garments which meant that shawls would also get taxed at 28 per cent.  The GoM has deferred submitting its report and will now submit it in the next GST Council meeting,” Drabu said on X.

The 55th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council was held in Jaisalmer of Rajasthan on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Omar Abdullah said, “Some things were agreed on, some things were deferred. There had been a lot of speculation that GST on shawls particularly Pashmina shawls will be hiked, so we had come prepared to ensure that wouldn’t happen.”

The J&K CM said that any hike on the Kashmiri Shawl would badly hit the Pashmina Shawl industry.

“Thankfully, it wasn’t taken up and we will also ensure that in the future, something like this is not considered because it would be life-threatening to our Pashmina shawl industry…,” CM Omar Abdullah said.

Hours ago, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti requested CM Omar Abdullah to clear his position on the proposed GST hike on Kashmiri Shawl.