A day after controversy erupted over senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda's statements advocating a US-like inheritance tax in the country, he said his remarks are being "twisted" to divert attention.
The Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress said his statements had nothing to do with the Congress or the party's manifesto. "Who said 55% will be taken away? Who said something like this should be done in India? Why is BJP and media in panic? It is unfortunate that what I said as an individual on inheritance tax in the US is twisted by Godi media to divert attention from what lies PM is spreading about Congress manifesto. PM’s comments Mangal Sutra & gold snatching is simply unreal."
"I mentioned US inheritance tax in the US only as an example in my normal conversation on TV. Can I not mention facts? I said these are the kind of issues people will have to discuss and debate. This has nothing to do with policy of any party including Congress.”
The controversial interview by Pitroda came while he slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "mangalsutra" jibe over Congress manifesto. "PM's approach is to take poor people's wealth and give it to the rich..." he told ANI during the interview, "In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has $100 million net worth, when he dies he can only transfer probably 45 per cent to his children, 55 per cent is grabbed by the government. That's an interesting law. It says you in your generation, made wealth and you are leaving now, you must leave your wealth for the public, not all of it, half of it, which to me sounds fair."
"In India, you don't have that. If somebody is worth 10 billion and he dies, his children get 10 billion and the public gets nothing. So these are the kinds of issues people will have to debate and discuss. When we talk about redistributing wealth, we are talking about new policies and new programs that are in the interest of the people and not in the interest of the super-rich only," he added.
Following the interview, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to X, saying "Congress wants to grab ones hard earned tax payed resources.”
“Congress, through Sam Pitroda the closest aide of Gandhi Vadra family, is essentially saying that 55% of what you earn will be taken away on your death. If you are a farmer — 55% of your land will be taken. If you are a businessman — 55% of your business will be taken. 55% of your savings you kept for your children. Ironically Gandhis built a huge treasury for their own children & son in law but they want to grab your hard earned tax payed resources," Poonawalla added.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Pitroda's statements are personal and does not reflects the position of the party. "Sam Pitroda has been a mentor, friend, philosopher, and guide to many across the world, including me. He has made numerous, enduring contributions to India’s developments. He is President of the Indian Overseas Congress. Mr Pitroda expresses his opinions freely on issues he feels strongly about. Surely, in a democracy an individual is at liberty to discuss, express, and debate his personal views. This does not mean that Mr. Pitroda’s views always reflect the position of the Indian National Congress. Many times they do not,” Ramesh posted on X.
