Nitish Kumar writes to Arun Jaitley, demands exemption of all 'langar' inputs from GST purview

PATNA: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Thursday asked the Centre to exempt from goods and services tax (GST) all the inputs required for preparation of ‘Langar’ (free meals) at Gurudwaras across the country.

In a letter to Union finance minister-cum-chairperson of GST council Arun Jaitley, Nitish said it was his considered view that levy of tax should be limited to the activities which are undertaken for business. Any activity which is not pursued as part of any business or which is not incidental or connected to any business activity should be kept away from the ambit of taxation.

“You will agree that Gurudwaras are engaged in charitable activities and are well recognised as centre of self-less services. The most prominent of such activities is providing food through ‘langars’, to everyone and anyone who visits a Gurudwara. Even though food served through a ‘langar’ is not liable to tax under the GST but some significant inputs like sugar, ghee, edible oil, spices etc are taxable. The GST on these inputs increases the expenditure of Gurudwaras,” Bihar CM said in his letter.

Nitish further said the imposition of GST on the ‘langar’ inputs should be discouraged in view of the sanctity of the ‘langar’. “I request the GST council to grant exemption to all inputs related to preparation of langar,” he said.

Bihar has one of the five most important Gurudwaras of Sikh community. Being the birthplace of tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, the Patna Sahib based Takht Sri Harimandir Ji Sahib is one of the five most revered ‘Takht’ (seat) of Sikh community.

Earlier in the forenoon, Union food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal met Nitish Kumar in New Delhi and requested him to support her demand for exempting 'langar' from imposition of GST for all gurdwaras across the country.

On request of Harsimrat, Nitish reportedly spoke to Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi and inquired about the GST on inputs of langar. He also assured Harsimrat that he would demand exemption of ‘langar’ inputs from the ambit of the GST.

“The Sawarn Mandir (Golden Temple) at Amritsar runs the world's largest kitchen offering ‘langar’ throughout the year to lakhs of people visiting there. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee spends around Rs 75 crore annually to purchase wheat flour, desi ghee, sugar and pulses etc. Now it would have to bear an additional financial burden on these purchases as they come under GST bracket of 5 to 18%,” Harsimrat told reporters after meeting Bihar CM.

However, it could not be known immediately as how much amount the management committee at the Harimandir Ji Gurudwara spends on preparation of ‘langar’ annually. Former senior vice-president of Sri Harimandir Ji Gurudwara R S Jeet confirmed that they purchase ‘langar’ inputs after paying GST on them.