AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—The apex Sikh body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee has written a letter to the Finance Minister of India Sri Arun Jaitley yesterday, demanding exemption from the GST for the purchase of langar material and other commodities for Gurdwara Sahibs in Punjab. A copy of the letter has been sent to the Additional Secretary of GST Council Mr. Arun Goyal.
Speaking to Sikh24, SGPC’s Chief Secretary S. Harcharan Singh said that according to the GST Act, purchases to be made at Harmandar Sahib, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib would come under the jurisdiction of GST.
“Items such as desi ghee, sugar and pulses cost Rs 750 million annually. With GST, the burden would rise by more than Rs 100 million per year,” he added.
It is pertinent to note here that with the enforcement of GST in India, the holiest Sikh shrine Sri Harmandir Sahib and sacred Takht Sahibs will also have to pay the normal cost of goods and services. SGPC is likely to be affected the most when the GST is levied on goods and services. Earlier, the SGPC run Sikh shrines were benefiting from the exemption from VAT.
SGPC needs to be a Future Looking
It should be a Science and Technology friendly Committee.
SGPC needs to focus on
1) Education : Increase the number of Schools ,Colleges ,Universities ,Medical schools ,Law Colleges ,Engineering Colleges ,MBA schools
2) Financial status : Open Banks , Open Cities and Metropolises
3) Job Creation : By setting up Industries
4) Space Exploration : Building Telescopes , Space Stations and Space Ships
It should charter a GROWTH CHART for it self.
Free food for every body, no government can impose tax for this humanitarian cause throughout the world. Let us see if there is any humanity in Indian government law makers? India is a poor country there should be no tax on food items and no tax up to some limit on clothes also so that poor can buy clothes free of tax.
Democracy and modern Nations have been a major set back for RELIGION .
Religion need to adapt to new REALITIES to be able to SURVIVE the EVOLUTION of societies and their method of Governance.