New Delhi:
In a rally in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew a stark contrast between the current income tax rates and those of the past, praising the Union Budget 2025 for its significant tax reductions. This comparison, made just a day before the final campaign day for the Delhi assembly election, underscored the government’s efforts to alleviate the tax burden on the middle class.
Modi’s remarks were a direct swipe at the Congress party, invoking the names of former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi to illustrate the substantial tax cuts introduced in the latest budget. He pointed out that in Nehru’s time, an individual earning Rs 12 lakh would have seen a quarter of their income go to taxes, while under Indira Gandhi’s government, a whopping Rs 10 lakh of that same income would have been taken by the state. In contrast, Modi emphasized that with the new budget, those earning up to Rs 12 lakh annually will not have to pay any income tax.
The Union Budget 2025, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has been hailed as the most middle-class-friendly budget in Indian history. The substantial income tax reductions are expected to boost consumption, although analysts have warned of potential inflationary pressures. The middle class has welcomed these tax cuts, seeing them as a significant financial relief.
PM Modi reiterated that the BJP respects and rewards honest taxpayers, particularly the middle class, highlighting the government’s commitment to their welfare. However, his comments were swiftly countered by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who defended Nehru’s legacy and criticized the current government for consistently blaming past leaders for its own shortcomings.
Gandhi Vadra pointed out that Nehru’s contributions to India’s development, including the establishment of institutions like AIIMS and IITs, were far more substantial than the current government’s achievements. She criticized Modi and other leaders for their tendency to blame past governments instead of taking responsibility for their own actions.
The exchange between Modi and Gandhi Vadra occurred amidst the fervor of election campaigning, with the Delhi assembly election votes set to be counted on February 8. The Union Budget 2025, with its focus on middle-class relief and economic growth, has become a central theme in the political discourse leading up to the elections.
