UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION PASSED IN ASSEMBLY THANKING PUNJAB CM FOR LANGAR GST WAIVER

Chandigarh, March 22, 2018: The Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution thanking Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for waiving off the state’s share in GST on Langar at Sri Darbar Sahib.

The resolution was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra after MLA Dera Baba Nanak Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa suggested the same.

Speaking in the House, Randhawa, while thanking Captain Amarinder Singh for respecting the religious sentiments of Punjabis all over the world, condemned Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for trivialising this solemn and very serious issue.

Randhawa termed as demeaning for the Sikh community Jaitley’s statement that accepting waiver of GST on Langar items at Sri Darbar Sahib would trigger similar demands for waiver on building materials for religious places.

The Akalis, he said, should have strongly protested against the Central Government’s decision to levy the GST on Langar since their ally, the BJP, was in majority at the GST Council. They should have forced the Central government to roll back this tax, he said.

Randhawa also lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for trying to take credit for the Government's decision, and said the party had no role in the matter and had, in fact, completely lost the trust of Punjabis.

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had on Wednesday announced waiver of the state government’s 50% share in GST on Langar/Prasad at Sri Darbar Sahib, Durgiana Mandir and Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal. At the same time, the Vidhan Sabha had passed a unanimous resolution to press for total waiver of GST on these items by the central government.