GST: Ignored by govt, SGPC approaches MPs

Amritsar : 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.