Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin Criticizes Nirmala Sitharaman Over GST Row with Restaurant Owner
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 14: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has criticized Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over a controversy involving the owner of a restaurant chain in Coimbatore. The restaurant owner, Srinivasan of Sri Annapoorna, had humorously commented on the varying GST rates on food items during an event attended by Sitharaman.
Srinivasan joked, ‘Madam, a bun doesn’t attract GST, but when cream is applied to make it a cream bun, it attracts 12 per cent GST. Customers now say, ‘You bring the bun and cream separately, and I’ll make the cream bun.” His remarks drew laughter from the crowd, but later, a video surfaced showing him apologizing to Sitharaman, which sparked criticism from the ruling DMK and Congress party.
Chief Minister MK Stalin called the Union Minister’s handling of the situation ‘shameful,’ stating that Srinivasan’s demands for a simplified GST were fair. DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan added that the government is not willing to listen to people’s voices and that Srinivasan was pressured to apologize.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also criticized the central government, stating that small business owners like Srinivasan face disrespect when asking for a simplified GST regime. He emphasized that a single tax rate would solve many problems for businesses. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge echoed these sentiments, accusing the BJP of ‘arrogance of power’ and calling for a simple, uniform GST on essential items.
Meanwhile, BJP leader K Annamalai apologized on behalf of the party’s Tamil Nadu unit for making the conversation between Srinivasan and Sitharaman public. He expressed regret for the unintended breach of privacy and requested everyone to lay the matter to rest.
Doubts Revealed
Tamil Nadu -: Tamil Nadu is a state in the southern part of India. It is known for its rich culture, temples, and beautiful landscapes.
CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state.
MK Stalin -: MK Stalin is the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is a leader of the political party called DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam).
Nirmala Sitharaman -: Nirmala Sitharaman is the Union Finance Minister of India. She is responsible for managing the country’s finances, including taxes and government spending.
GST -: GST stands for Goods and Services Tax. It is a tax that people pay when they buy goods and services in India.
Srinivasan -: Srinivasan is the owner of Sri Annapoorna restaurant in Coimbatore, a city in Tamil Nadu. He made a humorous comment about GST rates.
Sri Annapoorna restaurant -: Sri Annapoorna is a popular restaurant in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It is known for serving delicious South Indian food.
Coimbatore -: Coimbatore is a city in Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for its textile industry and educational institutions.
DMK -: DMK stands for Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. It is a political party in Tamil Nadu, India.
Congress -: Congress is a major political party in India. It has been one of the oldest and most influential parties in the country.
Rahul Gandhi -: Rahul Gandhi is a leader of the Congress party in India. He is the son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Mallikarjun Kharge -: Mallikarjun Kharge is a senior leader of the Congress party in India. He has held various important positions in the government.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India and is currently in power at the national level.
K Annamalai -: K Annamalai is a leader of the BJP in Tamil Nadu. He is known for his active involvement in state politics.
