Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized the Indian government for its treatment of small business owners following a video that showed Srinivasan, the owner of Annapoorna restaurant chain, allegedly apologizing to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after expressing concerns about the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Gandhi accused the government of arrogance, asserting that requests for a simplified GST regime from small business owners are met with disrespect, contrasting this with the preferential treatment billionaires receive. BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai issued an apology for the incident, acknowledging the breach of privacy regarding the private conversation between Srinivasan and the finance minister. Gandhi emphasized that small business owners have faced numerous challenges, including the negative impacts of demonetization and a complex tax system, and deserve better treatment. He reiterated that a unified GST rate could alleviate many issues faced by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country. The incident has sparked significant backlash from the opposition, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the Congress party and the ruling BJP.