India’s tax administration has been known for its tax harassment. Raising tax revenues, have dampened growth and at times done more damage than good. An exclusive TIMES NOW investigation revealed that there is rampant VVIP culture when it comes to taxes. Chief Ministers and Ministers own assets worth crore on paper but their taxes are paid by the public.
Although, The Modi government launched the Transparent Taxation platform to benefit honest taxpayers and introduced faceless income tax assessment to reduce the scope for corruption and overreach by officials. Yet, the Times Now investigation revealed how; the common man doesn’t only pay for salary, fuel and LPG, but also for the tax of MLAs and Ministers. It has come to the fore that there are many such states in the country where the taxes of MLAs, Ministers and Chief Minister is paid from government funds.
https://youtu.be/FuwIb9uaH2I
Recently, the Punjab government had submitted a report regarding its financial constraints. But the TIMES NOW investigation revealed a menace in the state. Punjab AAP Spokesperson Ahhbaab Singh Grewal said a law should be brought into Punjab Assembly wherein not only should the State government stop paying income tax on salaries of MLAs but also multiple pensions being given should be stopped.
Another APP MLA Aman Arora’s property value is Rs 65.9 crores, and his monthly income is Rs 1.52 crores, and yet the government is paying his tax. When asked about the same, he said that he has become an MLA for the first time, so he is not aware of this.
Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Parminder Dhindsa’s monthly income is 30.6 lakhs, and his net worth is worth Rs 9.2 crores. When he was questioned regarding his tax, he said that he cannot give any answer without the approval of his party. Similarly, Congress MLA Parminder Pinky has a monthly income of Rs 54.6 lakhs and a property value of Rs 10 crores, but his tax is also paid by the government. This patronage racket is not only limited to Punjab. BJP ruled states of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana have been enjoying similar privileges. There are as many as 7 states as reported by Times Now indulged in the same. Talking about regional parties, TRS in Telangana, YSR Congress in Andhra Pradesh etc. are also part of the VVIP group.
Taxpayers pay for clean water, breathable air, private security, and welfare. And now, it appears, taxpayers also pay for the taxes of the MLAs and CMs. Ministers who were supposed to be the representatives of the people with strong political will seem to be busy further exploiting the people.
In Modi’s vision for a new India, he took a legendary move to ban red beacons atop cars of all ministers, politicians and bureaucrats, ending a privilege that was seen as the ultimate status symbol. Yogi government was not far from following the PM’s footsteps when Yogi Adityanath ended a four-decade-old tax exemption practice of the state and now ministers have started paying their own income tax.
Politicians should indeed take notes from prominent leaders and work for the welfare of the common people. Taxes of the common citizens are not to supplement the luxury of the ministers; rather it should be for the greater good. The revelation that income tax of politicians in states (for CMs, Ministers & MLAs) is paid out of taxes collected from the citizen is indeed the worst form of VVIP tax racism and should be a halt at any cost. More transparency and accountability should be implemented regarding the common people’s income tax money.