Advocate Prashant Bhushan urged the Congress Party on the forefront regarding Sam Pitroda’s statements concerning inheritance tax, emphasizing its applicability solely to individuals of considerable wealth, exempting the common populace.
Through a communication on X, previously acknowledged as Twitter, Bhushan conveyed: “The Congress Party should seize the initiative on Sam Pitroda’s pronouncements regarding inheritance tax. This levy is directed solely at the affluent, sparing ordinary citizens. The proceeds are earmarked for developmental initiatives and employment generation. Such taxation policies are ubiquitous in affluent nations.”
Earlier, in an interaction with a media outlet, chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, Pitroda underscored the necessity for policies facilitating wealth redistribution, elucidating on the concept of inheritance tax prevalent in the United States.
“In the United States, there exists an inheritance tax. If an individual possesses wealth amounting to 100 million USD and upon demise, only approximately 45 percent can be inherited by their offspring, while the government appropriates 55 percent. This legislation mandates that the wealth accumulated within one’s lifetime is shared with the public, albeit partially, which appears equitable to me,” articulated Pitroda.
Furthermore, he remarked that such provisions are absent in India. “In India, such provisions are absent. If an individual possesses a fortune of 10 billion and passes away, their progeny inherit the entire sum, leaving nothing for public welfare… These are the deliberations that warrant public discourse. When we contemplate wealth redistribution, it necessitates the formulation of policies and programs conducive to the welfare of all citizens, not just the affluent,” he elaborated.
Pitroda also asserted that the Congress party is poised to devise policies fostering equitable wealth distribution. “We lack a standardized minimum wage in India. Introducing a statutory minimum wage entails redistributing wealth within the nation. Presently, affluent individuals often remunerate their domestic staff inadequately, while squandering substantial sums on leisure pursuits abroad… The discourse on wealth distribution transcends mere rhetoric; it mandates tangible actions aimed at equitable redistribution,” Pitroda expounded.
Pitroda’s clarification ensued subsequent to the Congress party distancing itself from his remarks, and amidst criticism from leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding wealth redistribution.
“It is regrettable that my individual commentary on inheritance tax in the United States has been misconstrued by certain media outlets to deflect attention from the misinformation propagated by the ruling party regarding the Congress manifesto. The Prime Minister’s assertions regarding Mangal Sutra and gold confiscation are utterly baseless,” lamented Sam Pitroda in a communication on X (formerly Twitter).
In response to Bhushan’s communication, users expressed diverse opinions on the matter. One user opined: “As the economic landscape evolves, the ranks of the affluent will burgeon, potentially encompassing individuals with innovative ideas and foresight… It is imperative to discern the essence of this discourse.” Another user concurred: “Although the Congress has yet to formalize such proposals, the potential ramifications are profound and could significantly alter the trajectory of the nation.” Conversely, another commentator remarked: “Enacting such legislation is unlikely to incentivize wealth creation. Capitalism thrives on incentives, benefiting not only the capitalists themselves but also those to whom they choose to allocate resources. Can we truly entrust the government with the judicious utilization of hard-earned wealth? It is lamentable that historical precedents remain unheeded.”
Bhushan’s missive on X coincided with a pronouncement from the Supreme Court disavowing its role as an arbiter in electoral matters, asserting its inability to dictate the operations of the Election Commission of India (ECI), a constitutional authority. This followed advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the Association for Democratic Reforms, citing an RTI response pertaining to the microcontroller of Bharat Electronics and contending, “Contrary to assertions, this microcontroller is reprogrammable, as confirmed by independent experts… The flash memory within is inherently susceptible to reprogramming.”
Addressing the concerns articulated by Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing on behalf of the petitioner Association for Democratic Reforms, the court remarked, “If one’s predispositions cloud their judgment, we are powerless to intervene… Our purview does not extend to reshaping individual perspectives.”
During the proceedings, the Court sought elucidation from the EC regarding certain aspects of EVM functionality, including the reprogrammability of the microcontrollers integrated within them, summoning a senior official from the electoral body for clarification at 2 PM.