GST: Ignored by govt, SGPC approaches MPs

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 21

With the Centre and the state government making no move for GST exemption on purchases made to run community kitchen at the Golden Temple, the SGPC has approached the members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to support the cause.

In an advisory note to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar viewed that the CM should have taken the lead by foregoing the state component of the levy, which is 50 per cent of the total charge, before approaching Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to seek GST exemption on gurdwara purchases.

Badungar said it was disheartening that neither the Centre nor the state government cared to respond to the pleas of the SGPC.

He said Capt Amarinder Singh and Jaitley were well aware that free langar was served at the Golden Temple to devotees from across the world without taking into consideration their caste, creed or race.

Meanwhile, SGPC chief secretary Harcharan Singh said there was no move to get the apex Sikh body registered under the GST and campaign against its implementation will continue. While interacting with mediapersons a few days ago, he had hinted at the beginning of process to procure GST registration number to facilitate hassle-free purchases for gurdwaras.

BJP tells Badungar to address PM with respect

Anandpur Sahib: The BJP on Friday lashed out at SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar. Party vice-president Harjit Singh Grewal said Badungar needed to mind his language while speaking about PM Narendra Modi. He said Badungar, while demanding GSTexemption for langar items, had equated Modi with Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and compared GST with jizya. The SGPC is controlled by the BJP’s alliance partner, the SAD. — TNS

‘Don’t make it God Service Tax’

New Delhi: Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu on Friday sought GST exemption for religious places  regarding community kitchen (langar) expenses. Raising the issue during zero hour, Bittu said GST should not become “God Service Tax”. He asked all political parties to join hands in making the Centre withdraw GST on langar “sewa”. Referring to Harmandar Sahib, he said GST would increase the annual financial burden by about Rs 10 crore. 

The Ludhiana MP alleged that Sikh shrines were already facing financial exploitation at the hands of Akalis. TNS