Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday slammed the Congress over Sam Pitroda for his '50% inheritance tax' remark. He also said Congress's manifesto carried the impression of the All India Muslim League. PM Modi borrowed the Life Insurance Corporation's tagline to take a dig at the Grand Old Party, saying: "An advisor to the royal family has said that the middle class should pay more tax. Now, the Congress wants to impose an inheritance tax. This means that the Congress's loot would continue 'zindagi ke saath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi [with you in life, with you in the afterlife]." He was speaking at a public election meeting in Chhattisgarh's Surguja.
"Till the day you are alive, Congress would keep increasing the burden of tax on you. Even when you are no longer alive, it would impose the burden of inheritance tax," he said.
Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress Sam Pitroda on Wednesday came under fire for reportedly backing an inheritance tax law. Pitroda later qualified that his remarks were just "an example". The Congress quickly distanced itself from Pitroda’s statements, calling them his “personal opinion”.
PM Modi said Babasaheb Ambedkar envisioned that reservation will never be on religious lines. "But a vote-hungry Congress brought in a policy to bring in reservations based on religion. It tried to bring in a religion-based reservation policy in Andhra Pradesh and the rest of the nation. This religious quota would be taken from the share of the SC/ST and OBC communities," he said. PM Modi alleged that the Congress in its 2009 and 2014 manifestos said that it won't abandon the matter of religion-based reservations.
PM Modi Brings Back 'X-Ray' Claim
PM Modi said: "The Congress-led Karnataka government put all Muslims in the OBC quota. This took away the benefits of social justice policies from the backward classes. The Congress wants to amend the Constitution and snatch the benefits of SC/ST and OBCs to benefit its vote bank... Now, only the BJP can protect your rights."
According to news agency ANI, all castes and communities of Muslims of Karnataka have been included in the list of OBCs for reservation in employment and educational institutions under the state govt. "Under Category II-B, all Muslims of Karnataka state have been considered OBC," ANI cited the National Commission for Backward Classes.
He said the Congress is also eyeing the income and property of people. Making a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi said: "The shehzada of Congress says your property and homes will be X-rayed. The Congress wants to redistribute your wealth among others." However, he stopped short of naming the Muslim community in this context as he had done in his public meetings earlier this week. He said: "You know among whom your wealth will be redistributed. Do I need to explain? Should we let them commit this sin?"
PM Modi, speaking in the Naxalism-hit Chhattisgarh, also said the Congress promoted Naxalism and terrorism and destroyed India. "Congress supports those who spread terrorism... Those who attack the police and security forces are labelled 'martyrs'. Their leaders shed tears at the death of terrorists," PM Modi said.