Rahul Gandhi Criticizes Government Over Video of Restaurant Chain Owner ‘Apologising’ to Finance Minister

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, sharply criticized the government on Friday following the circulation of a video where a restaurant chain owner is allegedly seen “apologising” to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for raising concerns about GST. Gandhi remarked that when the “fragile egos” of those in power are hurt, they resort to humiliation as a response.

The controversy stems from two videos shared widely by Congress leaders. In one video, dated September 11, Srinivasan, the owner of Annapoorna chain of restaurants, is seen voicing concerns over the varying GST rates. In a second video, Srinivasan is shown personally apologising to the Finance Minister.

Gandhi, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), asserted that if this “arrogant government” would listen to the people, they would realize that a simplified GST regime would address the issues faced by countless small businesses. He highlighted how the request for a simpler GST system, raised by the owner of a small business like Annapoorna Restaurant in Coimbatore, was met with “arrogance and disrespect.”

Further, Gandhi alleged that while small business owners are treated with disdain, Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolls out the red carpet for billionaires seeking to manipulate laws or acquire national assets. “Our small business owners have already endured the blows of demonetisation, an inaccessible banking system, tax extortion, and a disastrous GST implementation. The last thing they deserve is more humiliation,” Gandhi added.

He emphasized that MSMEs have been seeking relief for years, calling for a simplified GST with a single tax rate. However, he lamented that the government’s actions reflect a lack of willingness to listen to the needs of India’s small business community.

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