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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →In September 2024, D Srinivasan, managing director of Coimbatore’s Annapoorna Hotels, publicly criticized the complexity of GST treatment for food items at a meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. A video shared the next day showed him speaking to Sitharaman and BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan; Tamil Nadu BJP functionaries described the private conversation as an apology. Opposition leaders alleged he had been pressured or humiliated, while BJP figures disputed that account. The reports do not independently establish that he was forced to apologize.
What Srinivasan said about GST
At a public meeting on September 11, 2024, Srinivasan used a bun, cream and cream bun to illustrate what he saw as inconsistent tax treatment. As reported by The Indian Express, he said a bun attracted no GST, cream attracted 5%, and a cream bun was treated at 18%. He said customers asked for the bun and cream separately, and that billing systems struggled with the resulting complexity. He also called for a uniform rate for sweets, savouries and coffee.
Those figures describe Srinivasan’s example as reported by news outlets; they are not an independently verified GST classification ruling. The Indian Express quoted him saying, “The computer itself is getting stuck because of this GST confusion.” His complaint was about the practical complexity he said businesses and customers encountered, rather than a formal tax determination.
Why a private conversation became a political row
The Indian Express reported that a separate conversation took place the following day. In the video, Srinivasan was seen standing with folded hands and speaking to Sitharaman and Vanathi Srinivasan. Tamil Nadu BJP functionaries shared the video online and characterized the exchange as an apology. According to Hindustan Times, a person familiar with the matter said Srinivasan did not know he was being recorded.
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In the recorded conversation, as quoted by Scroll.in, Srinivasan said, “I do not belong to any political party.” The fact that the video was presented as an apology—and that it showed a private interaction—prompted questions about whether he had been pressured to retract or explain his public remarks.
What each side said about the apology
| Account | What was reported | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Congress and DMK | They alleged Srinivasan had been made to apologize or humiliated after raising a business concern. | These were opposition parties’ allegations, not independently verified findings. |
| Vanathi Srinivasan | The BJP MLA said the apology was voluntary, according to Scroll.in. | This is her account of the private conversation. |
| A BJP leader | The Indian Express reported that a BJP leader said the meeting was intended for Srinivasan to clarify he had no ill intentions, not to apologize. | This account disputes the apology framing. |
| K Annamalai, Tamil Nadu BJP chief | He apologized for party functionaries sharing the private conversation and described it as an unintended breach of privacy. | His apology addressed the sharing of the video; it does not independently resolve whether Srinivasan felt pressured. |
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, quoted by Hindustan Times, said: “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.” Annamalai, quoted by The Indian Express, said: “I sincerely apologise for the actions of our functionaries who shared a private conversation between a respected business owner and our Hon. FM.”
Was Srinivasan forced to apologize?
The reports describe conflicting interpretations, and do not independently establish coercion. The video was characterized as an apology by BJP functionaries who shared it; opposition leaders alleged pressure or humiliation; Vanathi Srinivasan said the apology was voluntary; and a BJP leader told The Indian Express the meeting was for clarification, not an apology. Without an independently verified account that settles what happened in the private conversation, it is more accurate to describe the pressure claim as disputed than as fact.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the BJP apologized for
Annamalai apologized for party functionaries sharing the private conversation online, calling the disclosure an unintended breach of privacy and asking people to let the matter rest, according to The Indian Express. That response concerned the circulation of the video. It should not be conflated with an admission that Srinivasan was forced to apologize, which the reporting does not establish.
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