VAT on defence canteens and Lord Balajee?

By Vijay Kumar

DDT 91 dated 08.04.2005 had pointed out that the defence canteens were on the verge of closure because of VAT. Now the FM wants the states to exempt these canteens from VAT. He has asked all the political parties to persuade the state governments to grant this exemption. While defence is a priority, unfortunately God is forgotten. DDT had pointed that Lord Balajee will be made to pay VAT on the sale of human hair so devotionally offered by pilgrims to the Lord. There seems to be no exemption in sight for this. On a personal note, I recently contributed to this VAT in Tirupathi while a senior netizen held in high esteem by DDT wrote to us that he cannot really contribute much as there is hardly any hair left with him to offer to the Lord. Please see our Breaking News for more stories on the Finance Bill.