Facing ₹10-cr burden after GST, SGPC now fighting ‘rumours’

AMRITSAR: Already worried over the extra financial burden the newly introduced Goods and Services Tax (GST) is going to put on its “langar sewa”, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is also fighting rumours that “it will get itself registered for the new taxation regime”.

Trashing media reports, SGPC chief secretary Harcharan Singh, on whose quote the information was disseminated, clarified that the apex gurdwara body has not applied for registration under the GST.

The new taxation system is likely to put additional burden of ₹10 crore on the SGPC for its “langar sewa”.

He said the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is negotiating with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, finance minister Arun Jaitley and Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh to get the exemption.

In another press note issued the same day, SGPC additional secretary (media) Kulwinder Singh Ramdas trashed the report that SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar had stated that if the governments does not exempt langar from the Goods and Services Tax, the time period of community kitchen would be shortened.

“The SGPC chief never said this,” clarified Ramdas. According to the release, Badungar had said: “Should the SGPC shorten the time period of langar to cover up the burden of ₹10 crore?”

SGPC, SAD MISLEADING SANGAT ON GST: AUJLA

Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar Gurjit Singh Aujla alleged that the SGPC chief has made the statement regarding shortening of “langar” timing, “which is condemnable”.

In a release issued here on Friday, Aujla said: “One needs to understand the GST before playing with the sentiments of the sangat and followers. The GST rates have to be considered before jumping to a conclusion that how much the SGPC will lose due to its implementation.”

Aujla explained that 80% of the items used for “langar” fall in the 0% category and the remaining 20% in the 5% to 12% GST slab. Still, all items used to prepare langar should be exempted, he said.