The Central government has imposed a 12% GST on inns, managed by the SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) where the devotees stay. These are located outside the Golden temple. However, the Central government’s step has been criticised by not just the SGPC but even the Akali leaders as well as Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.
Contrary to this, no GST has been imposed on the same type of inns owned by the committee of Sri Durgiana Temple situated near Golden temple. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal have strongly opposed the decision, demanding its rollback. Moreover, the GST will be imposed on the three inns – Mata Bhag Kaur Niwas, Sri Guru Gobind Singh NRI Niwas and Baba Deep Singh Yatri Niwas.
Meanwhile, the AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has also given a suspension of business notice in the parliament to discuss imposition of 12% GST on ‘Sarais’ near Golden Temple.
Amidst this, Senior Akali leader and former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, in a tweet, quoted:
“Central govt decision to impose 12 % GST on accommodation charges in 3 Serais run by SGPC outside Sri Darbar Sahib premises has shocked Sikh community.”
“These Serais cater to devotees from across the world & are non profit institutions. I request PM
@NarendraModi not to tax devotion of pilgrims & revoke this totally unjustified decision.”
Similarly, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann also opposed the decision. A tweet (in Punjabi) by CM Mann, reads:
“ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਨੇੜੇ ਸਥਿਤ ਸਰਾਵਾਂ ‘ਤੇ 12% GST ਲਗਾਉਣ ਦੇ ਫ਼ੈਸਲੇ ਦੀ ਸਖ਼ਤ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ…ਧਰਮ ਅਸਥਾਨ ਸਭ ਦੇ ਸਾਂਝੇ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਨੇ…ਇਹ ਟੈਕਸ ਸ਼ਰਧਾਲੂਆਂ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਰਧਾ ‘ਤੇ ਲਗਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ…
ਕੇਂਦਰ ਨੂੰ ਅਪੀਲ…ਤੁਰੰਤ ਇਸ ਫ਼ੈਸਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਵਾਪਸ ਲਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ…”
Furthermore, no tax has been imposed on the inns located inside the complex of the Golden temple. After the newly imposed GST, the new rate for a room per day at Baba Deep Singh Niwas which was ₹500, now stands at ₹560, while at Sri Guru Gobind Singh NRI Niwas, which was ₹700 per day, is now ₹784. Similarly, at Mata Bhag Kaur, the new rate is ₹336 per day, up from ₹300 earlier.
