Prime Minister Narendra Modi intensified his criticism of the Congress party, alleging that it unfairly granted quotas to Muslims under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in Karnataka.
In addition, Modi claimed that the Rajiv Gandhi-led government abolished the inheritance tax in 1985 to evade taxes on the property inherited after the assassination of his mother, Indira Gandhi.
Speaking at an election rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena, Modi labeled the Congress’s actions as deceptive, asserting that they aimed to bring back a stricter law to extract money from the public’s earnings across generations.
This statement followed remarks made by Congress leader Sam Pitroda advocating for a debate on inheritance tax. However, the Congress distanced itself from Pitroda’s remarks, emphasizing that the idea needed discussion.
Responding to Modi’s accusations, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pledged a comprehensive assessment of Bharat’s financial and institutional landscape if the party came to power. He proposed a significant initiative to distribute the country’s wealth, jobs, and welfare programs based on population statistics.
Inheritance tax was imposed in Bharat from 1953 until its abolition in 1985. The Congress government at the time justified the decision by stating that the tax failed to mitigate wealth disparities and assist states in financing development projects.
The Congress refuted Modi’s claims, citing statements from former BJP ministers who advocated for an inheritance tax. Congress leader KK Mishra labeled Modi’s assertion about Rajiv Gandhi as false, clarifying that the Congress had no intentions to implement such a tax.
Modi further alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka extended OBC status to Muslims, reducing reservation opportunities for other backward classes. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed Modi’s allegations as baseless and urged him to provide evidence or apologize.
As the national elections progressed, Modi continued to target the Congress, accusing them of seeking to redistribute wealth and reservation benefits to Muslims.
The ongoing exchange between the two parties underscores the contentious issues of reservation policies and taxation in the Bharatiya political landscape.
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