Fact Check: “Cong wants GST levied on worship articles” claims doctored video of Supriya Shrinate’s
Mangaluru: A WhatsApp forwarded chat attached with a trimmed video from a press conference conducted by National Spokesperson of the Congress party, Supriya Shrinate on October 17 is going viral across the messaging platform. The viral Whatsapp message originally written in Kannada claims that the ‘Congress wants tax to be levied on Hindu worship items (i.e. Pooja samagri)....In reality the Congress is plotting to oppress the Hindu faith..”
The text attached along the clipping further claimed that the Congress is more cruel than the British and Mughal empire. Electing Congress to power is like laying the foundation for creating another Pakistan. “A true self-respecting Hindu will not vote for Congress. People are not understanding this reality in the rush of fortunes. By the time we understand, we won't be there.! Get rid of Congress first. Save the country and religion. Share this to all. Jai Hind,” the message further read.
Meanwhile, upon running a scan on the internet, we found that the claims made in the viral WhatsApp message were deceptive, purported to seem like the Congress demanding a tax on the Hindu worship articles. The video of Supriya’s press conference was originally posted on October 17 and was about the Congress party slamming the union government for imposing a 18% GST (Goods Service tax) on the Worship article, ‘Gangaajal.’
During the press conference, Supriya alleged that the BJP Government had imposed an 18% tax on ‘Gangaajal’, but reversed its decisions after facing strong backlash from the Congress.
While, in the viral trimmed video attached with the message, Supriya was seen displaying the worship articles and saying that “There is no tax levied on worship articles including, Rudraksh Mala, Yagnopavit, Honey with no branding, Raksha sutra or Kalava, Vibhuti, wick used in diyas, wooden khadau and Charanamrit. Everything else is marked with GST.”In reality, Supriya shows a purported letter of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs which did not include ‘Gangaajal’ as an item which is exempt from GST but listed 10 all such items including rudraksha mala, yagnopavit, vibhuti, roli, chandan tika and wooden khadau on which there was no tax. The part where Supriya shows the letter and questions the government has been trimmed and was cut short to allegedly show that the Congress was demanding an tax on Worship articles.
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Pawan Hans helicopter crashes into sea off Mayabunder, All on board safe
Mayabunder: A Pawan Hans helicopter crashed into the sea near Mayabunder in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Tuesday morning.
The helicopter went down about two kilometres away from the helipad at around 9:45 am. All persons on board are reported safe.
The cause of the incident is not immediately known, and further details are awaited.
Pawan Hans officials said necessary protocols were initiated following the incident.
