Longowal: Jaitley’s statement on GST exemption misleading

AMRITSAR:SHIROMANI Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal said the statement of Union finance minister Arun Jaitley’s statement that ‘No Gst(goods and Services Tax) has been imposed on the food served in ‘langar’ (free community kitchen) is misleading.

As per media reports, Jaitley dismissed as incorrect the charge that the government has imposed GST on 'langar' (free kitchen) in gurdwaras. He says “GST is levied on only products that are sold. Food in gurdwaras is distributed free, so there is no question of levying GST. There is no GST on atta or rice, if somebody says that I am buying ghee for temple”.

The SGPC, which has been struggling to get exemption of GST on ‘langar’, said, “The statement is far from truth and facts. So, this is totally wrong. The GST is being charged on the purchase of ;langar; items”, said Longowal, in a press release issued here by SGPC spokesperson Diljit Singh Bedi.

The SGPC chief said, “A false statement by a minister puts a question mark on the working of the Union government”.

“Since the GST has been imposed in the country, all gurdwaras have to pay on the purchase of the ration for the ‘langar’ in the country,” Longowal said, adding, “The SGPC has been raising voice against levying of Goods and Services Tax on ‘langar’ where the food is distributed free.

Since then we have written so many letters to the Prime Minister, finance minister and members of Parliament seeking exemption from this.”