Tamil Nadu GST hotelier video: BJP expels functionary for posting clip of man's apology to FM Nirmala Sitharaman

COIMBATORE: BJP on Saturday expelled a party functionary for circulating the video of D Srinivasan, managing director, Annapoorna Hotels, apologising to Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman for his remarks on different GST rates for different food items being served in hotels on social media, triggering a political storm.

In a press statement, district BJP president J Ramesh Kumar said the party's Singanallur mandal president R Sathish had been removed from the post and basic membership for working against the welfare of the party. He said a decision in this regard was taken with the approval from the senior party functionaries.

CM M K Stalin, meanwhile, condemned the FM for the entire episode. "The way the Union finance minister handled the issue is a shame. People are watching. He (the hotelier) had expressed only genuine demands of the businessmen on the Goods and Services Tax," he said.


Read more: 'The way FM handled it ... ': Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin slams Sitharaman after bizman's apology

BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan was quick to issue a press statement, condemning Stalin for his comment on the GST row. "The FM came to Coimbatore to save the industrial sectors in Kongu region. The DMK govt did not assist her to support the industrial sectors. The chief minister's comments on the FM are condemnable. Stalin should be shamed for not helping the industrial sectors battling for survival in Coimbatore."


Congress staged a protest in the city, condemning Nirmala Sitharaman for allegedly forcing the hotelier to apologise for questioning her about the GST. During the protest, state Congress president Selvaperunthagai and Coimbatore north district Congress committee chief V M C Manoharan wore garlands made of cream buns as a symbolic gesture. After the protest, cream buns were distributed to the party cadres.

Read more: 'Forgive me, I don't belong ...' : Tamil Nadu hotelier's apology to FM Nirmala Sitharaman over GST remark triggers political row

Addressing the media, Selvaperunthagai said it was the finance minister and MLA Vanathi Srinivasan who should have tendered an apology to the hotelier and not state BJP president Annamalai. "If they are not apologising to the hotelier, we will take out a nationwide protest," the Congress functionary warned.
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