WebDesk
April 24
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
In a swift rebuttal to BJP’s recent attacks, the Congress has resurfaced old statements from former Union Minister Jayant Sinha and other BJP leaders expressing support for inheritance tax. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh shared reports documenting Sinha’s advocacy for inheritance tax during his tenure as Minister of State for Finance in 2014. Ramesh also cited former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s positive remarks on the concept in 2018, highlighting its potential to generate significant contributions for hospitals and educational institutions.
Ramesh underscored the irony of the Modi government’s purported interest in implementing inheritance tax, noting that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had abolished estate duty in 1985. He referenced reports from 2017 and 2019 suggesting the Modi government’s consideration of inheritance tax implementation, challenging Prime Minister Modi to clarify the BJP’s stance on the issue.
Additionally, Ramesh shared a 2013 speech by Jayant Sinha at the Forbes India award ceremony, where Sinha expressed support for inheritance tax. He also highlighted BJP’s IT chief Amit Malviya’s endorsement of taxing inheritances in a 2014 post, contrasting it with BJP’s past manifesto pledges supporting property inheritance and redistribution.
Ramesh criticized Modi’s recent mention of mangalsutras, labeling it as a distasteful joke directed at Indian women. He defended Congress leader Sam Pitroda, emphasizing Pitroda’s global influence and contributions to India’s development.
The Congress’s swift response signals a proactive stance in countering BJP’s criticisms, leveraging past statements to highlight ideological inconsistencies within the ruling party’s rhetoric. As the election campaign heats up, the exchange underscores the strategic maneuvering and ideological battles shaping the electoral discourse.