New Delhi : Ganga water is considered very important among Hindus. In the last few days, there were discussions about the implementation of GST on Gangajal. There was an impact on social media as well. Due to this, many people expressed their anger over the imposition of tax on Gangajal. Subsequently, the Central Board of Excise and Customs i.e. CBIC has issued a clarification regarding GST on Ganga water. CBIC has dismissed reports of GST on Ganga water. The CBIC has clarified that since the implementation of GST in the country, Ganga water has been excluded from the ambit of GST.
CBIC wrote on social media platform X that reports of GST implementation on Ganga water have come to light. Ganga water is used by people all over the country for worship. Worship materials have been kept out of the ambit of GST. The 14th and 15th GST Council meetings held on 18-19 May 2017 and 3 June 2017 discussed the issue of levying GST on worship materials. In this meeting it was decided to keep worship materials GST free. Since the implementation of GST, Ganga water has been kept out of GST.
As soon as the media reported that 18 percent GST was levied on the holy Ganga water for Hindus, politics started over it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a tour of Uttarakhand, where the Ganga originates from Gangotri. In such a situation, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge targeted Prime Minister Modi for imposing GST on Ganga water. He said, ‘Mokshadayini Ganga is very important for common Indians. It is good that you are in Uttarakhand today, but your government has imposed 18 percent GST on holy Ganga water itself.
Political attacks on the government by leaders of opposition parties have intensified after the news of GST on Ganga water surfaced. After which the CBIC under the Ministry of Finance has issued a clarification rejecting reports of levying GST on Ganga water.