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'Reminds of Jizya...': Raghav Chadha demands rollback of 12 pc GST on 'sarais' near Golden Temple

Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha described the Centre's decision to impose 12 per cent GST on inns near Amritsar's Golden Temple an "unnecessary financial imposition on the Sangat (community)".

TN National Desk

Updated Aug 4, 2022, 16:33 IST

Pic courtesy: @AAPPunjab

Photo : Twitter

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

According to Raghav Chadha, these inns are not commercial entities
Their existence is motivated by "Seva (service) and not profit, and the Central government seems to have ignored this crucial distinction", he said
Raghav Chadha was recently named as the chairman of the Punjab government's temporary advisory panel

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha on Thursday held a meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and called for a rollback of 12 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 'sarais' around Shri Harmandir Sahib in Punjab's Amritsar.

"This tax reminds us of the Jizya imposed during the Mughal era. I have also demanded a financial package for Punjab," said Chadha after meeting Sithraman.

Reports had earlier suggested that the Centre has imposed 12 per cent GST on the accommodation charges in three Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee-run "sarais" -- Baba Deep Singh Yatri Niwas, Mata Bhag Kaur Niwas and Sri Guru Gobind Singh NRI Niwas - located outside the premises of the shrine.

In a memorandum to the Finance Minister, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab opined that the imposition of 12 per cent GST on inns would make visiting the Golden Temple more expensive.

Chadha said that the Golden Temple provides people with an open house of worship and frequently witnesses over one lakh visitors daily from all over the world.

He added that SGPC-run inns offer accommodation to devotees and are operated for service to the community, not for profit.

In the view of the AAP MP, filling the coffers of the Central government cannot be more important than fulfilling the spiritual journey of each devotee who seeks blessings at the Golden Temple.

"Times like this remind us of the Mughal era when Aurangzeb imposed 'jizyah' tax on pilgrims," he said.

Chadha urged the Centre to assess whether it is morally permissible to impose additional costs on the devotees traveling to the Golden Temple.

The Finance Minister should provide devotees with "a solution and a much-needed relief by rolling back" the decision to impose 12 per cent GST on inns, said Chadha.

In a tweet, the AAP's Punjab unit said, "Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Raghav Chadha met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and submitted a letter regarding withdrawal of the decision of imposing 12 per cent GST on 'sarais' (inns) located near the Golden Temple in Amritsar."

On August 2, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called the Central government's decision to levy GST on 'sarais' near the Golden Temple in Amritsar an irrational move.

While condemning the Centre's decision, Mann said the 'sarais', including Guru Gobind Singh NRI Niwas, Baba Deep Singh Niwas and Mata Bhag Kaur Niwas, are associated with the Golden Temple.

According to Mann, these 'sarais' are used to accommodate devotees visiting the holy shrine and have always been an integral part of gurdwara complex.

A GST on room charges would raise tariffs, putting a heavy burden on pilgrims who travel from around the world to pay obeisance at Sri Darbar Sahib, said Mann.

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