Amritsar: As per the media reports the Union minister for Food Processing Harsimrat Badal, who earlier opposed the levy of GST on gurdwara langar purchases has here on Wednesday in a sudden U-turn ‘justified’ the center’s so called helplessness in granting any immunity.
She gave the following statement while interacting with progressive farmers and industrialists of Amritsar on Centre’s scheme “Sampada” (Scheme for Agro-Marine Produce Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters), facilitated by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), countrywide partner with the Food Processing Ministry.
During the interactive session with the media Harsimart Badal seemingly appeared uncomfortable when asked about her stand on SGPC’s impeding protest against the Union Government with regard to GST on langar, to which she reportedly answered that “How can I be part of the protest being a Central minister, though I support the SGPC’s cause. I was the first person to raise voice against taxing ‘langar’ and had also sent letters to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in this regard. Technically, post July 1, since the GST was implemented, it is now the sole prerogative of the GST council to decide. The state Finance Minister, who is the member of the council, should share the liability to get the things done.”
She also tried to evade question on approaching the PM in this regard, media sources said.