Chennai

K. Annamalai, the Tamil Nadu BJP chief, has issued an apology to D. Srinivasan, owner of the renowned Sri Annapoorna Hotel Chain, after a video of Srinivasan with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman went viral on Friday. In the video, Srinivasan is seen apologizing to Sitharaman, saying, I do not belong to any party. Please excuse me, referring to a light-hearted comment he made about GST rates during a meeting.

Srinivasan had joked about GST rates, noting the inconsistencies: 5% on sweets, 12% on savouries, and 18% on cream buns, while plain buns had no GST, leading to a humorous remark from customers about adding their own cream. The joke received laughter from the audience.

Annamalai apologized for the incident, stating, I sincerely regret the actions of our team who shared a private conversation between a respected business owner and our Finance Minister. He highlighted Srinivasan’s significant contributions to Tamil Nadu’s business sector and the nation’s economy. Annamalai emphasized that Srinivasan is a valued member of the business community and requested respect for him, urging that the matter be laid to rest. There has been speculation on social media suggesting Srinivasan was pressured into apologizing, with AIADMK leader Kovai Sathiyan questioning the circumstances surrounding the apology.