Even as the SAD delegation on Friday met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express thanks for the Centre’s “unprecedented and decisive” initiative in “exempting” ‘Guru Ka langar’ from the GST regime, the ambiguity over the said waiver prevailed.
In fact, it is not the waiver of central share of the GST, as is being presented, but a financial aid will be given under the Union Cultural Ministry’s new Seva Bhoj Yojna, and that too for the two-year time — for 2018-19 and 2019-20. Under the scheme, the centre’s GST will be refunded to the institutions applicable only on the purchases of specific items for distribution as free food.
On the other hand, the SAD, BJP, Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee and even the Akal Takht are going gung ho about the Centre’s decision.
SAD delegation, led by party chief Sukhbir Badal and his Union Minister wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal, expressed wholehearted appreciation to the Prime Minister for the fact that the decision on “exemption on all purchases for Guru ka langar for all Gurdwaras throughout the country was a first ever initiative of its kind by the Government of India since independence”.
Only a day before, two former SGPC executive members — Kiranjot Kaur and Sukhdev Singh Bhaur — have maintained that the said “temporary benefit” will leave a permanent dent in the historic significance and the concept of langar, which is considered as parshad, by considering it as a “free food service”.
The two religious leaders maintained that the move would result in government’s “undue interference” in Sikh religious affairs as the SGPC will have to furnish details of the grant utilization annually.
Kaur has, in fact, challenged the SGPC chief to hold a debate on the issue of “sarkari financial aid”.
Bhaur demanded that the Centre should offer complete exemption of tax on langar on the lines of Tirupati Temple.