NEW DELHI: BJP on Saturday expelled a party functionary after a video of the owner of the popular Sri Annapoorna restaurant seeking an apology from Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman went viral on social media, triggering criticism from DMK and the Congress party. Srinivasan, the owner of Sri Annapoorna restaurant can be seen apologizing to Sitharaman for his remarks on GST over food items in the video shared by the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit. In the video that was taken down after the backlash, the restaurant owner was heard saying to Sitharaman :“I spoke only about those that were discussed in the association.
I do not have any political party connections. Sorry, if I have said anything wrong.” Srinivasan, who is also the president of the Tamil Nadu hotel owners’ association, in a lighthearted comment raised concern about the varying GST rates on food items while addressing Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman during an event in Coimbatore.
"Madam, a bun doesn't attract GST, but when cream is applied to make it a cream bun, it attracts 12 per cent GST. Customers now say, 'You bring the bun and cream separately, and I'll make the cream bun,'" said Srinivasan. He also highlighted the challenges faced by the hotel's computer system in calculating the different tax rates when families order various items, and he urged the minister to simplify the GST structure for food by implementing a uniform rate across all items.
Meanwhile, BJP leader K Annamalai apologised on .