The central government launched the Sewa Bhoj Yojana on 1 June, exempting charitable organisations that provide free food from paying GST on the raw materials used. The scheme was a result of the BJP ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), in Punjab raising the demand to exempt langar from GST.

ThePrint asks: Modi’s GST exemption for Punjab Sewa Bhoj – placated an ally or changed the idea of langar?

There is no wrong in asking for a tax refund

Sukhbir Badal

Sukhbir Singh Badal
President of SAD, and former deputy CM

Those who are objecting to the Sewa Bhoj scheme perhaps do not understand the significance of the move. Earlier, all gurdwaras and other institutions were paying value-added tax (VAT) to the state and central sales tax (CST) to the centre for the purchase of items used in langar. In Punjab, only Golden Temple and the Durgiana Mandir (both in Amritsar) were exempt from the VAT levied by the state, but they still had to pay the CST.

Now, the central scheme will ensure that the entire tax (GST) paid on these items is refunded. All institutions that give free food to 5,000 people every month are covered under the scheme. The step is a big relief for all gurdwaras across the country.

Non-religious institutions, like those outside the PGIMER and the AIIMS, who feed the poor are also covered under the scheme. The idea of ‘sewa bhoj’ is about serving humanity. We cannot say that it should be called langar, and only then we will accept it. We are grateful to the centre that they have taken this step. An exemption from central tax has never been given in the past.

Also, there should be no objection to asking for a tax refund. It is the money of the sangat, which we are asking to be returned. What is wrong in it? It cannot be construed as a financial assistance.

Scheme is valid for only 2 years, what happens after that?

Kiranjot Kaur
Senior member, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee

The concept of langar does not translate into “free food”. It is the practical manifestation of the concept of equality as taught by the Sikh gurus, and reinforces the idea of sewa or service. The process of gathering raw materials, cooking and serving food to everyone without prejudice, partaking of food and cleaning utensils emanates from a community effort.

The money used in langar is contributed by the sangat. Government assistance is not part of it. If grants or assistance had to be taken then the third Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Amar Das ji, would have accepted the offer made by Emperor Akbar that a jagir can help pay for the langar. But the offer was turned down. No assistance was ever taken from Maharaja Ranjit Singh although he majorly contributed to the gold plating of the Golden Temple.

Taking any form of assistance from a government that is run on the tax paid by common man compromises the concept and ethos of langar. The GST waiver scheme of the government is not really returning or refunding the tax that the gurdwaras have paid. The tax is collected by the ministry of finance, and if it is a refund, it should be returned by the same ministry. But in this case, it is not so. The gurdwaras will have to get registered under the ministry of culture for refund in shape of “financial assistance” under the Sewa Bhoj scheme, which is unacceptable. According to the information made available to the SGPC, the scheme is valid only for two years. What will happen after that?

Sewa bhoj stands for serving humanity, can’t say it should only be called langar

Langar is most secular form of sewa. Why object to ‘Sewa Bhoj’?

Kamal Sharma
Former BJP president, Punjab

The entire debate on what the GST waiver on langar purchases should have been named is unnecessary. It is a result of certain vested interests who do not wish that such a provision be offered. The concessions offered as part of the Sewa Bhoj Yojana are not for a single community. These are for every community, organisation and religious body offering free food.

There is no doubt that langar is a unique tradition and has been in existence for centuries. What is wrong if the sewa bhoj includes bhandaras too? There should be no objection to the word ‘sewa’. The ethos of sewa is the highest in Sikhism, and langar is the most popular and secular form of sewa.

During langar you don’t see the religion of the person who is eating food. So, why do you object to langar being called sewa bhoj? The centre took some time in bringing out the scheme, but now it has been done in a manner that it covers every form of langar.

It is an umbrella scheme and will also cover organisations, which do not have religion as the basis for providing free food to the needy.

Don’t belittle langar by calling it ‘Sewa Bhoj’

Gurpreet Singh
Spokesperson, Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha

The GST waiver on langar purchases is a falsehood being spread by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). The SAD is, in fact, on a thanksgiving spree in Delhi. It is trying to dupe the Sikh people once again.

The GST has not been waived and will continue to be levied on the items used for langar. Instead, the Guru’s langar has now been officially converted to the Sewa Bhoj Yojana, a scheme under which Sikhs will have to register to get a paltry sum as an aid from the government.

The purpose of langar is to break caste barriers and to establish equality and dignity in society. We cannot belittle it by calling it ‘sewa bhoj’. Guru Nanak had refused any aid from Akbar, who had offered a land grant to hold langars.

In a statement with authors Gurtej Singh, Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon, Jaspal Singh Sidhu and veteran journalist Sukhdev Singh, I have said that the institution of langar is eternal whereas the Sewa Bhoj Yojana appears to be a temporary pilot project with paltry financial provisions that are not adequate even for the ‘kanwariyas’, for whom it seems to have been designed. Sikhs must condemn this tax as ‘Hindutva jizyah’ much like the Mughal jizyah, which was not levied on the Sikhs even by the Mughals.

Compiled by Chitleen K. Sethi, Associate Editor at ThePrint.