Bengaluru, Oct 19 (PTI): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday wrote to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, urging him to exempt handmade products from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.

Siddaramaiah’s letter to Jaitley comes even as veteran theatreperson Prasanna’s hunger strike against taxation of handmade products entered its sixth day in Bengaluru.

“Handmade products of various kinds are produced by millions of artisans and poor rural households in India. Imposition of GST on such products has had an adverse effect on the livelihood of artisans,” Siddaramaiah wrote, calling it “a very critical issue that the GST Council should take note of and decide on a priority basis.” Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda is Karnataka’s representative in the federal GST Council.

“I have received a representation from a committee constituted by the Gram Seva Sangh and consisting of noted activists, including Ashis Nandy, Uzramma and Shyam Benegal, seeking exemption of various handmade products produced and marketed by producer cooperative societies and their federations from GST,” the chief minister wrote.

This representation requires serious and urgent consideration and a positive resolution, Siddaramaiah urged Jaitley in the letter.

“This would not only benefit a large segment of our rural population, but also give a boost to rural employment and sustainability,” he said.