BJP TN chief Annamalai reacts after video of bizman’s apology to FM Sitharaman over ‘cream bun’ question goes viral | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI:A Tamil Nadu businessman’s viral video questioning Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman wittingly on GST and his subsequent apology to her has become the latest flashpoint between the BJP and the opposition. The clip of the apology led to a major controversy after BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit posted it on social media.
The Congress and the DMK flayed the saffron party for the “arrogance and outright disrespect” shown to Sri Annapoorna restaurant owner Srinivasan, while BJP TN chief K Annamalai regretted TN BJP’s actions to “breach privacy” by disclosing a private conversation.
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.”
Soon after the video surfaced, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi latched on to the issue to attack the central govt, saying, “when the fragile egos of those in power are hurt, it seems humiliation is exactly what they’ll deliver”.
“When the owner of a small business, like Annapoorna restaurant in Coimbatore, asks our public servants for a simplified GST regime, his request is met with arrogance and outright disrespect,” he wrote on X.
The Congress leader also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of preferential treatment, saying, “when a billionaire friend seeks to bend the rules, change the laws, or acquire national assets, Modi Ji rolls out the red carpet… But when the fragile egos of those in power are hurt, it seems humiliation is exactly what they’ll deliver.”

“Yet, when a billionaire friend seeks to bend the rules, change the laws, or acquire national assets, Modi Ji rolls out the red carpet,” he added.
Responding to the controversy, DMK MP Kanimozhi said the Union government and ministers should not spoil the self-esteem of Tamils.
Meanwhile, the Congress Kerala unit posted videos of Srinivasan’s speech at the conference and of his meeting with Sitharaman on its X page and said, “Madame Sitharaman laughed at it on stage. But Srinivasan was later made to apologise to her on video and he was seen saying that he is not affiliated to any party. Master ji is intolerant to criticism and his minions are also acting like him, becoming extremely intolerant to criticism.”

BJP TN chief apologises
As the controversy gained steam, BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai took to social media and apologised “for the actions of our functionaries who shared a private conversation between a respected business owner” and expressed regret for the “breach of privacy”.
“I sincerely apologise for the actions of our functionaries who shared a private conversation between a respected business owner and the finance minister,” Annamalai said on X.

I spoke with Thiru Srinivasan Avl, the esteemed owner of the Annapoorna chain of Restaurants, to express regret for this unintended breach of privacy,” Annamalai, who is in on sabbatical to the UK said.
“Annapoorna Srinivasan Anna is a pillar of Tamil Nadu’s business community, contributing significantly to the state’s and nation’s economic growth,” he added.
What did the Anapoorna owner say?
Srinivasan, who is also the president of the Tamil Nadu hotel owners’ association, had on 11 September flagged issues about the GST regime at a meeting attended by the finance minister in Coimbatore. He also flagged the discrepancies in taxing sweet and spicy food.
“There is five percent GST on sweets but 12 percent on savouries, and 18 percent on cream-filled buns, whereas there is no GST on buns! Customers often complain, saying, ‘Just give me the bun, I’ll spread the cream and jam myself,’” Srinivasan said to a crowd that burst out in laughter.