BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Sunday sought clarifications from Finance Ministry on the implication of GST on Temple Boards and other Hindu Religious institutions. In his letter to Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia and PM’s Principal Secretary Nripendra Mishra, Swamy urged that existing exemption from all kind of taxes should be maintained for the Temple Boards and other Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments.
Citing various reports on the burden of more than Rs.100 crore taxes on Tirupati Temple Board after GST implementation, Swamy said that these organisations are not profit oriented organisations and deserve the existing exemptions from all kind of taxes.
“Although certain items eg : Prasad, sale of hair in Tirupati were belatedly excempted by the rescent resolution in the GST Council, other services offered by the Hindu Religious Institutions were not exempted from GST> There are apprehensions, for example, that the Guest Houses provided to pilgrims and other services on nominal rent by Temple Boards and many Hindu organisations are to be adversely affected by GST.
“I suggest Hindu Temple and other Hindu Religious Endowments, Institutions and Boards are exempted as before from taxes, especially those exemptions which they enjoy presently. If GST can avoid new levies on whopping profit making hard liquor related trades, such relief could also be extended to Hindu Temple and religious organisations. These organisations are not profit oriented and thus deserve the right for existing tax exemptions. Thus, status quo on all tax exemptions many be maintained for these organisations,” said Swamy.