The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday questioned the logic and legality behind the imposition of goods and services tax (GST) on research grants and demanded its unconditional withdrawal.

The development comes a day after several top educational institutions, including the IITs, received GST notices for crores of pending dues.

AAP MP and national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak told reporters here on Saturday: “The Modi government’s recent decision to impose a tax on research grants marks a dangerous new chapter in the BJP’s intention and tax terrorism policy… Showcause notices have been issued to all premier institutes that they will have to pay GST on all the research grants they have received from 2017 till now. They have demanded a GST of around ₹220 crore from premier institutes, including IIT Delhi.”

Pathak used to teach at the department of energy science and engineering at IIT Delhi before becoming an MP in 2022.

He added: “The government argues that since research is a service, GST should be imposed on it… Research is a service to humanity, it serves humankind for eternity. Research and development (R&D) also takes the nation forward. The country’s development is based on this and the government is levying tax on it. This is outright tax terrorism.”

Pathak said the AAP governments would demand a rollback at the GST Council meeting on Monday and protest if it is denied.