Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha Criticizes Union Budget 2024-25
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha launched a scathing attack on the Union government's Budget 2024-25, stating that Indian citizens "pay taxes like England to get services like Somalia." He expressed his dissatisfaction with the budget, claiming that it offered no relief to the common people and instead burdened them with higher taxes.
Chadha criticized the government's decision to remove indexation benefit on the sale of old property, arguing that it would encourage the inflow of black money. He urged the government to conduct a comprehensive review of the tax framework and offered eight suggestions for improvement.
He highlighted the government's economic policies as a major factor behind its reduced number of seats in the Lok Sabha, stating that the imposition of 18% GST on essential items had alienated voters. He also pointed to the decadal low growth in rural income and the failure to fulfill promises made to farmers, such as doubling their income and providing MSP as per the Swaminathan Commission.
Chadha expressed concern over the removal of indexation on long-term capital gains, arguing that it would discourage investors and penalize them. He proposed eight suggestions for a comprehensive review of the budget, including reworking the agricultural pricing formula, providing legal guarantee to MSP, incentivizing financial savings, reviewing and simplifying GST, and implementing cooperative federalism.
Overall, Chadha's criticism reflects the concerns of many citizens who feel burdened by high taxes and lack of adequate services. He urges the government to reconsider its policies and prioritize the welfare of the common people.