Rajya Sabha Chairman Naidu turns down notice to discuss imposition of GST on Golden Temple ‘serais’
New Delhi, August 3
Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday turned down a notice under Rule 267 given by AAP member Raghav Chadha for suspension of business of the House to discuss the issue of the imposition of 12 per cent GST on “serais” (inns) around the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
“That this house do suspend Zero Hour and other relevant rules relating to Question Hour and other businesses of the day to have a discussion on the imposition of 12 per cent GST on serais around Shri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar”, the notice given by Chadha stated.
Outstation devotees, who stay at serais managed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) during their visit to the Golden Temple, will now have to pay more following the Centre’s decision to impose the Goods and Service Tax (GST) on the accommodations.
Everyday, thousands of devotees from all across the globe visit the Golden Temple and the Durgiana Mandir.
The Narendra Modi Government has imposed 12 per cent GST on the three SGPC-run serais — Baba Deep Singh Yatri Niwas, Mata Bhag Kaur Niwas and Sri Guru Gobind Singh NRI Niwas — all located outside the shrine premises.
Tax has not been imposed on the serais inside the shrine complex.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Naidu turns down notice to discuss imposition of GST on Golden Temple ‘serais’
