Kannada Sahitya Parishat's ex-president writes to CM, urges to waive GST on International Booker Prize money

Bengaluru: Kannada Sahitya Parishat's former president Manu Baligar has written a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging him to waive of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the International Booker Prize money conferred upon veteran Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi. 

Banu Mushtaq's Heart Lamp: Selected Stories, translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, won the International Booker Prize on Wednesday.

In the letter, Baligar said the central government is imposing 30% GST on the prize money (GBP 50,000).

"I believe the government must ensure that the two women, who have made Kannada and Indians proud at the international level, get the entire amount without any taxes," he urged the government in the letter. 

The Booker Prize money is exempt from taxes under Section 10 (17A) of the Income Tax Act. 

Irrespective of the central government's stance, he has also urged the state government to announce a reward of Rs 10 lakh to the two writers for their notable achievement.