Ever since the video of Srinivasan apologising to Sitharaman made its way online, people have been condemning the Union finance minister over her conduct prompting Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai to publically apologise.
Published Sep 13, 2024 | 4:51 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 14, 2024 | 1:29 PM
Screengrab from the video of Srinivasan apologising to Sitharaman.
The controversy over the apology by Srinivasan, Managing Director of Sri Annapoorna Restaurant, has started to explode into a political issue not only in Tamil Nadu but elsewhere in the country. MPs, including Jothimani, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Rahul Gandhi, criticised Nirmala Sitharaman’s actions.
A video of Srinivasan meeting Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and apologising to her for asking for a uniform GST rate for sweet and savoury food earlier is going viral.
Ever since the video made its way online, people have been condemning the Union finance minister over her conduct prompting Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai to publically apologise.
TKS Elangovan, head of the DMK media relations wing, told a television channel: “Has the restaurant owner apologised to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman himself or was he made to apologise?
He expressed suspicions that the restaurant owner was threatened adding that there was no need to apologise for raising the question to the Union minister.
DMK Deputy General Secretary and MP Kanimozhi condemned by quoting Thirukural, saying that the self-esteem of Tamils should not be insulted.
In a post on X, she said the Union government and Union ministers should not try to spoil the self-esteem of Tamils.
‘பணியுமாம் என்றும் பெருமை சிறுமை
அணியுமாம் தன்னை வியந்து’
– குறள் 978, அதிகாரம் 98ஒன்றிய அரசும், ஒன்றிய அமைச்சர்களும் தமிழர்களின் சுயமரியாதையை சீண்டாமல் இருக்க வேண்டும்.
— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) September 13, 2024
Leader of Opposition in Parliament Rahul Gandhi said the Union finance minister treated the demand of the restaurant owner with arrogance and disrespect.
“Yet, when a billionaire friend seeks to bend the rules, change the laws, or acquire national assets, Modi Ji rolls out the red carpet. Our small business owners have already endured the blows of demonetisation, an inaccessible banking system, tax extortion and a disastrous GST. The last thing they deserve is further humiliation,” he wrote on X.
“But when the fragile egos of those in power are hurt, it seems humiliation is exactly what they’ll deliver. MSMEs have been asking for relief for years. If this arrogant government would listen to the people they would understand that a simplified GST with a single tax rate would solve the problems of lakhs of businesses.”
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.
Yet, when a billionaire friend seeks to bend the rules, change the laws, or acquire…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 13, 2024
Karur MP and Congress leader Jothimani slammed Sitharaman for insulting the Annapoorna founder and asked her to apologise.
“The Coimbatore Annapurna restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in Tamil Nadu. Its founder Srinivasan made a very reasonable request to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. And that too in character. The video goes viral as the country is affected by GST,” she said on X.
“It is the duty of a finance minister to listen to an opinion shared by someone who has successfully run a business and provides employment to many people through his experience and correct it. But to make him apologise without doing that and to release the video is the height of arrogance. It is disgusting too. What great crime has he committed to apologise for? Is telling the truth a crime?
“I am sorry for this insult that happened to a businessman from Kongu Mandal in Tamil Nadu. This incident is a testimony to what the BJP and fascism will do. Even if you surrender to BJP, you have to be a slave to them. They just expect you to stand in front of them with your hands tied and your mouth shut. Their firm stand is that others should not have their own opinion. Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman should apologise for insulting Annapoorna founder,” she added.
கோவை அன்னபூர்ணா உணவகம் தமிழகத்தின் பிரசித்தி பெற்ற உணவகங்களில் ஒன்று. அதன் நிறுவனர் திரு.சீனிவாசன் ஒன்றிய அரசின் நிதியமைச்சர் மாண்புமிகு நிர்மலா சீதாராமன் அவர்களிடம், மிகவும் நியாயமான வேண்டுகோள் ஒன்றை முன்வைக்கிறார். அதையும் தன்மையாக முன்வைக்கிறார். ஜி.எஸ்.டியால் நாடே… https://t.co/W0xQsvobAj
— Jothimani (@jothims) September 13, 2024
When the incident blew up, BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan came up with an explanation of Srinivasan’s apology.
Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, she said, “The restaurant owner himself apologised to Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. It is not true that we have threatened him. We don’t need to intimidate anyone.”
“The BJP did not intimidate the hotel management. A video of a restaurant owner talking about how the country has been affected by GST has gone viral. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave answers on all the issues,” she said.
Meanwhile, Annamalai apologised over releasing the video of Srinivasan talking to the finance minister.
“On behalf of Tamil Nadu BJP, I sincerely apologise for the actions of our functionaries who shared a private conversation between a respected business owner and our Finance Minister. 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 wrote on X.
“Annapoorna Srinivasan Anna is a pillar of Tamil Nadu’s business community, contributing significantly to the state’s and nation’s economic growth. I request everyone to lay the matter to rest with due respect,” he added.
On behalf of @BJP4TamilNadu, I sincerely apologise for the actions of our functionaries who shared a private conversation between a respected business owner and our Hon. FM.
I spoke with Thiru Srinivasan Avl, the esteemed owner of the Annapoorna chain of Restaurants, to express…
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) September 13, 2024
After the video of Srinivasan apologising to Sitharaman went viral, it became a national debate with people questioning the finance minister for her arrogance and the alleged attempt to belittle the businessman.
Netizens flocked to social media posting messages slamming the Union finance minister through hashtags including #NirmalaSitharaman #Coimbatore.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
