Sam Pitroda’s Inheritance Tax Remarks Spark Row, Congress Responds; BJP Hits Back
Sam Pitroda, a key aide to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, has issued a clarification over his remarks on inheritance tax, claiming that his statement was twisted to deflect attention from core issues. Pitroda’s comments had drawn criticism from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, who accused him of advocating for an inheritance tax law in the country. However, Pitroda defended his remarks, saying that he was merely emphasizing the need for a policy towards wealth redistribution.
In an interview with news agency ANI, Pitroda reportedly emphasized the need for a policy towards wealth redistribution and elaborated on the concept of inheritance tax prevailing in America.
“In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has 100 million USD worth of wealth and when he dies, he can only transfer probably 45 percent to his children; 55 percent is grabbed by the government. That’s an interesting law. It says you, in your generation, made wealth and you are leaving now; you must leave your wealth for the public, not all of it, half of it, which to me sounds fair,” ANI quoted Pitroda as saying.
“In India, you don’t have that. If somebody is worth 10 billion and he dies, his children get 10 billion, and the public gets nothing… So these are the kinds of issues people will have to debate and discuss. When we talk about redistributing wealth, we are talking about new policies and new programs in the interest of the people and not in the interest of the super-rich only,” he added.
Pitroda also said that the subject of wealth distribution is strictly a “policy issue” and expressed concern about Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his remarks on the Congress manifesto.
“This is a policy issue. The Congress party would frame a policy through which the wealth distribution would be better. We don’t have a minimum wage (in India). If we come up with a minimum wage in the country saying you must pay so much money to the poor, that’s the distribution of wealth. Today, rich people don’t pay their peons, servants, and home help enough but spend that money on vacation in Dubai and London… When you talk about the distribution of wealth, it is not that you sit on a chair and say I have this much money, and I’ll be distributing it to everybody,” Pitroda said.
PM Modi and the BJP have criticized the Congress manifesto, saying the poll document smacks of appeasement and that if it came to power, it would redistribute people’s wealth and give reservations to Muslims from the quota for SC, ST, and OBC communities.
Several BJP leaders have hit out at the Congress after Pitroda’s interview. In a post on Twitter, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Family Advisor is spilling the beans – their intention is ‘organized loot and legalized plunder’ of your hard-earned money.”
BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill also slammed Pitroda, saying that voters need to be aware of property snatchers. “Cat is out of the Bag! Rahul Gandhi’s main advisor Sam Pitroda ‘hua to hua’ Fame proposes ‘inheritance tax’ like the US, where Govt takes 50 percent of your wealth! Voting for Congress = Losing your Money Property Belongings! Voters be aware, property snatchers are here!” Shergill wrote on Twitter.
Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala also alleged that the Congress wanted to grab the hard-earned taxpayer resources of the people.
“Congress, through Sam Pitroda, the closest aide of the Gandhi Vadra family, is essentially saying that 55 percent of what you earn will be taken away on your death. If you are a farmer – 55 percent of your land will be taken. If you are a businessman – 55 percent of your business will be taken. 55 percent of your savings you kept for your children. Ironically, Gandhis built a huge treasury for their own children and son-in-law, but they want to grab your hard-earned tax-paid resources,” Poonawala said in a post on Twitter.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya also came down heavily on the Congress, saying, “Congress has decided to destroy India.”
In a post on Twitter, Malviya said, “Congress has decided to destroy India. Now, Sam Pitroda advocates a 50 percent inheritance tax for wealth redistribution. This means 50 percent of whatever we build, with all our hard work and enterprise, will be taken away. 50 percent, besides all the tax we pay, which too will go up if Congress prevails.”
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said that Pitroda expressed his opinions freely on issues he felt strongly about. However, that does not always reflect the party’s stand.
“Sam Pitroda has been a mentor, friend, philosopher, and guide to many across the world, including me. He has made numerous, enduring contributions to India’s developments. He is the President of the Indian Overseas Congress. Pitroda expresses his opinions freely on issues he feels strongly about. Surely, in a democracy, an individual is at liberty to discuss, express, and debate his personal views. This does not mean that Mr. Pitroda’s views always reflect the position of the Indian National Congress,” Ramesh posted on Twitter.
“Many times, they do not. Sensationalizing his comments now and tearing them out of context are deliberate and desperate attempts at diverting attention away from Narendra Modi’s malicious and mischievous election campaign; which is anchored ONLY in lies and more lies,” he added.
