A BJP functionary in Tamil Nadu has been expelled from the party after a video of a hotel owner in Coimbatore apologising to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was leaked on Friday, which became a matter of controversy.
Within minutes of the video going viral, DMK, Congress and other internet users criticized the BJP. They said that on September 12, the BJP forced a reputed hotelier in Coimbatore to apologize for his comments on the Goods and Services Tax (GST). After this, the BJP faced a lot of criticism and now the BJP has expelled official Satish from the party for anti-party activities.
Two videos went viral
In fact, two videos surfaced recently, in one of which Srinivasan, owner of the Annapurna restaurant chain, is allegedly seen expressing concern over different GST rates. Raising the issue of GST at an event organized in the presence of Sitharaman, he says, ‘The problem is that GST is levied differently on every item. For example, there is no GST on ‘bun’, but if you apply cream on it, the GST becomes 18 percent.’
He said that because of this, customers, especially families, ask for the bun and cream separately and say that they will apply the cream on the bun themselves to save money.
Also read: First question to Finance Minister on GST then apology, when Congress attacked the restaurant owner’s video, Annamalai expressed regret
In the second video, Srinivasan is allegedly seen apologizing to the Finance Minister. In the second video, Srinivasan can be heard telling the Finance Minister that he is not associated with any party, then he later apologizes.
The Congress and the DMK shared the video widely and criticised the BJP, calling it an act of “arrogance” and claiming that Srinivasan was forced to apologise.
Rahul Gandhi raised the issue
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi criticised the government, alleging that when a businessman seeks a simplified GST regime, his request is viewed with “arrogance and outright disrespect”.
“When a billionaire friend asks for easing of rules, changing laws or acquiring national assets, Modiji rolls out the red carpet. Our small traders have suffered the brunt of demonetisation, an inaccessible banking system, extortionate taxes and a disastrous GST. Now the last thing left is to disrespect them further,” he said in a post on the social media platform X.
Also read: Nirmala Sitharaman told banks- do something new and increase FD, will we get more interest now?
Annamalai apologized
Amid criticism from several quarters, BJP state chief Annamalai on Friday said in a post on the social media platform ‘X’, “On behalf of Tamil Nadu BJP, I sincerely apologise for the act of our functionaries who shared a private conversation between a respected businessman and our honourable finance minister.”
He said, ‘I have spoken to the respected owner of Annapurna restaurant Thiru Srinivasan Aval to express my regret for this inadvertent breach of privacy. Annapurna Srinivasan Anna is a pillar of the business community of Tamil Nadu who is contributing significantly to the economic growth of the state and the country. I request everyone to end this matter with due respect.’
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