New Delhi [India], January 22 : Ahead of the budget session in Parliament, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal raised concerns over the plight of the middle class in India, accusing other political parties of neglecting this crucial section of society in favor of votebanks and notebanks.
In a video message, Kejriwal said that the middle class has been marginalized between the “notebank” of industrialists and the “votebank” based on religion and caste, and as a result, has become the victim of “tax terrorism.”
“Many parties create votebanks by making promises to industrialists or based on caste and religion. In the process, the middle class is forgotten and has become the ATM for the government. The middle class is suffering under tax terrorism,” Kejriwal stated.
He pointed out that the exodus of people leaving the country was a result of the burden faced by the middle class, citing that over 2.16 lakh people had left India in 2023 alone. In response, Kejriwal promised that the AAP would continue to champion the middle class, noting initiatives such as the increase in education budgets and reduced electricity and water bills in Delhi. He also mentioned the upcoming Sanjeevani Yojana aimed at providing free treatment to the elderly.
In his video, Kejriwal outlined seven demands from the central government ahead of the budget session. His main demands were:
- Increase in Education Budget: Kejriwal called for the education budget to be raised from 2% to 10%, along with regulating private school fees and providing scholarships for higher education.
- Higher Health Budget: The AAP leader demanded an increase in the health budget to 10% and the removal of taxes on health insurance.
- Income Tax Exemption Limit: He proposed raising the income tax exemption limit from Rs. 7 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh.
- GST on Essentials: Kejriwal demanded that Goods and Services Tax (GST) be removed from essential commodities.
- Railway Concessions for Senior Citizens: He urged the central government to reinstate the 50% railway concession for elderly citizens.
- Pension Plans for Senior Citizens: He called for the creation of strong retirement plans and pension schemes for senior citizens.
- Free Healthcare for Senior Citizens: Kejriwal requested that all senior citizens be provided free and quality treatment in both government and private hospitals.
Kejriwal ended his message by reiterating that AAP would raise these issues in Parliament to ensure the middle class gets the attention and support it deserves in the upcoming budget.