Thursday, March 28, 2024

Symbolic protest against GST on langar by Modi led NDA Govt.

Amritsar, Mar. 23 (Punjab Post Bureau) – Member Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla joined PPCC chief and MP PPN2303201801Sunil Jakhar, MP. Partap Singh Bajwa and MP Ravneet Singh Bittu in a symbolic protest against GST on langar imposed by Modi led NDA government. Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced waiver of the state government’s 50% share in the GST on the Langar at the Darbar Sahib, even as the Vidhan Sabha passed a unanimous resolution to seek total waiver from the Centre. The Chief Minister also announced similar waiver on GST on Langar/Prasad for Durgiana Mandir and Ram Tirath Temple, while directing officials of the concerned department to work out modalities for similar waiver at revered religious shrines of other communities. Back in 2002, Punjab government waived off Sales Tax on all Langar items, which had been levied by the previous SAD government.

The purchase for the Golden Temple’s kitchen, which feeds between 55,000 to 60,000 devotees daily, comes to around Rs.75 crore annually. As per official figure, between the period July 1, 2017 and January 31, 2018, the total purchase for the Golden Temple’s kitchen was Rs.20.17 crore. The new GST slab had put an extra burden of Rs 1.9 crore. The main ingredient, desi ghee, had invited 12 per cent of the GST. A tax of Rs 1.5 crore was charged on the purchase of 4,188 quintals of desi ghee. Another essential item sugar (6,210 quintals) got dearer by Rs 12.08 lakh after 5 per cent GST was imposed. An added amount of Rs 87,425 and Rs 37,345 was paid on mustard oil (1,300 tins) and refined oil (700 tins), respectively. Similarly, on 1,230 quintals of dry milk, an amount of Rs 10.77 lakh was paid as tax (5 per cent). On 4,440 kg of tea, an extra amount of Rs 65,756 was paid. The 27, 240 LPG cylinders attracted an additional amount of Rs 8.9 lakh. Interestingly, the “dunas” (small bowl made of leaves generally to carry karah parshad) attracted the GST of 5 per cent ending up paying an extra amount of Rs 1.7 lakh on 11,982 bags. Similarly on “pattal” (plate made of leaves) an amount of Rs 35,000 was paid extra for 2,746 bags.

Keeping in view the traditions and spirit of serving free Langar to the devotees and pilgrims, the MPs demanded that NDA Government at the Centre must immediately waive off its GST share on the Langar items at Sri Darbar Sahib, Durgiana Mandir and Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal at Amritsar.

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