Lagatar24 Desk
Chennai: BJP’s Tamil Nadu chief, K Annamalai, found himself in a controversy on Friday after sharing a video of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s conversation with Srinivasan, the owner of the renowned Sree Annapoorna Hotel chain in Coimbatore. The incident, which was perceived as an unintended breach of privacy, led to Annamalai issuing a public apology.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Annamalai expressed regret, acknowledging the unintended breach. “I sincerely apologize for inadvertently sharing the video of the conversation,” he wrote, adding that he had personally spoken to Srinivasan about the matter. Annamalai praised Srinivasan, calling him a “pillar of Tamil Nadu’s business community” and urged everyone to respect the situation and move on.
The Video and Controversy
The controversy erupted after a video clip of Srinivasan humorously discussing GST issues with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at a Coimbatore business forum went viral. In the interaction, Srinivasan urged the Minister to standardize GST rates for different food categories and highlighted discrepancies in taxation for items like buns with cream filling.
His witty comments, which drew laughter from the audience, seemed to be well-received by the Finance Minister, who smiled at his remarks and noted that GST rates are not decided on a state-by-state basis. However, she assured that the issue would be considered.
Shortly after, a second video surfaced online showing Srinivasan allegedly apologizing to Sitharaman, which sparked political backlash. In the video, he is seen with his back to the camera, purportedly apologizing for his comments. The authenticity of the video remains unverified.
Political Reactions and BJP’s Response
The video drew sharp criticism from the opposition, with Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi condemning the BJP. Rahul Gandhi commented on X, saying, “When the owner of a small business asks for a simplified GST regime, his request is met with arrogance and disrespect.”
Tamil Nadu’s CPI called for an apology from Sitharaman, and DMK leader Kanimozhi also weighed in, urging Union Ministers not to provoke the self-respect of Tamils.
Amidst the backlash, Annamalai’s apology aimed to de-escalate the situation, clarifying that no offense was intended, and the matter should be laid to rest.
