Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing them of seeking to take away the rights of people’s children through their proposal for an inheritance tax law. The Prime Minister’s criticism came in response to remarks made by Congress leader Sam Pitroda advocating for an inheritance tax during an interview.
During an election rally in Chhattisgarh, PM Modi condemned the Congress, stating, “Shahi parivar’s shehzada had said some time ago that more taxes should be imposed on the middle class. Now these people have gone one step further than this. Now, Congress says that it will impose Inheritance Tax, it will also impose tax on the inheritance received from parents.”
PM Modi emphasized that such a tax would deprive individuals of passing on their hard-earned property to their children, alleging that the Congress’s intention was to take away from the common Indian what the Congress elite freely passed down to their own.
This controversy further escalated as PM Modi accused the Congress party of aiming to distribute the country’s wealth among “infiltrators” and families with more children if voted to power. He highlighted past statements where the Congress allegedly favored certain groups over others in terms of wealth distribution.
The controversy began with Pitroda advocating for an inheritance tax similar to that in the United States, where upon an individual’s demise, a significant portion of their wealth is allocated to the government for public welfare. He argued that India lacks such a provision, leading to heirs inheriting vast fortunes while the public receives no share.
The BJP swiftly criticized Pitroda’s remarks, and the Congress party distanced itself from his proposal. Congress General Secretary (Communications), Jairam Ramesh clarified that Pitroda’s views were his own and did not reflect the party’s stance.
In response to the criticism, Pitroda defended himself, stating that he merely mentioned the US inheritance tax as an example and stressed the need for discussion and debate on such issues in India.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also entered the fray, referencing her family’s history of sacrifices for the nation. She mentioned her grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, donating her gold during times of war, and spoke of her father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, implying a symbolic sacrifice of her mother’s mangalsutra for the country.
The debate surrounding inheritance tax reflects broader political tensions in India, with the ruling BJP and opposition Congress clashing over economic policies and wealth distribution.
In conclusion, while the proposal for an inheritance tax has sparked heated debate, it remains to be seen whether it will become a reality and how it will shape the political landscape in India.
