'It is Shameful': Stalin Slams Sitharaman Over GST Row With Restaurant Owner

During an event attended by Nirmala Sitharaman, D. Srinivasan, MD of Sree Annapoorna, highlighted the varying GST rates on food items. However, a video later surfaced showing him apologise to FM.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin slammed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman following an incident involving the owner of a restaurant chain in Coimbatore. The restaurant owner reportedly apologised to Sitharaman after making remarks about the complexities of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system. Stalin called the Minister's handling of the situation "shameful."

During an event in Coimbatore attended by Sitharaman, D. Srinivasan, the owner of the popular Sree Annapoorna restaurant chain, humorously highlighted the varying GST rates on food items. He pointed out the inconsistency where a simple bun does not attract GST, but adding cream to make it a cream bun incurs a 12% GST. Srinivasan jokingly said, "Customers now say, 'You bring the bun and cream separately, and I'll make the cream bun.'" His remarks, aimed at showcasing the complexity of the current GST structure, drew laughter from the crowd.

Srinivasan further elaborated on the challenges faced by businesses in calculating the various tax rates when customers order different items, urging Sitharaman to consider a more simplified, uniform GST rate for all food items. However, following the event, a video surfaced showing Srinivasan apologising to Sitharaman with folded hands, which quickly went viral on social media.

Commenting on the incident, CM Stalin condemned Sitharaman's response, stating as per The Hindustan Times, "The way the Union minister handled it is a matter of shame because he (the businessman) made fair demands on the GST."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also weighed in on the controversy. He criticised the government's attitude towards small business owners, tweeting, "When the owner of a small business, like Annapoorna restaurant in Coimbatore, asks our public servants for a simplified GST regime, his request is met with arrogance and outright disrespect. Yet, when a billionaire friend seeks to bend the rules, change the laws, or acquire national assets, Modi Ji rolls out the red carpet."