The Congress has accused the Narendra Modi government of imposing an 18% GST on the water of the holy Ganga river, calling it “loot and hypocrisy.” However, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has refuted these claims, stating that no such tax has been imposed on Gangajal used in religious ceremonies.
The Congress also took the opportunity to question Prime Minister Modi’s priorities, asking when he would visit the violence-hit state of Manipur. They highlighted the significance of the Ganga river in Indian culture and criticized the government for not considering the burden on individuals who use Ganga water for religious purposes.
In a clarification, the CBIC stated that there is no GST on Gangajal, as puja samagri (religious items) are exempted from GST. The CBIC explained that the exemption for puja samagri was decided in meetings of the GST Council held in May and June 2017.
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