Cong leader Sam Pitroda slams BJP, media for twisting his words on US inheritance tax
New Delhi: In response to severe criticism by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for his statement on the inheritance tax in the US during a recent interview, Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress Sam Pitroda hit back on Wednesday, alleging that his words had been tweaked by the media in order to divert attention from the 'lies that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was spreading' about the Congress party's manifesto for the current Lok Sabha elections.
Pitroda, in a post on his personal account on 'X' on Wednesday, clarified that his statement during the interview had nothing to do with either the Congress party or its election manifesto. "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," Pitroda has posted.
Pitroda had said during the interview that there was inheritance tax in the US, which could be an interesting topic of discussion for the people, explaining further, “In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has $100 million worth of wealth and when he dies, he can only transfer probably 45% to his children and 55% goes to the government. That’s an interesting law."
He added that about half the wealth earned by a person in his or her lifetime would pass on to the public after the death of the person. Calling it a fair legal procedure, Pitroda said, "In India, you don’t have that. If somebody is worth 10 billion and he dies, his children get 10 billion and people get nothing… So, these are the kind of issues people will have to debate and discuss."
The BJP slammed Pitroda for his comments, with party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla saying that the Congress aimed at grabbing the people's hard-earned money.
BJP's IT cell chief, Amit Malviya posted on his account on Wednesday, "Congress has decided to destroy India. Now, Sam Pitroda advocates 50% inheritance tax for wealth redistribution. This means 50% of whatever we build, with all our hard work and enterprise, will be taken away. 50%, besides all the tax we pay, which too will go up, if the Congress prevails."
Asking if the BJP and the media were panicking due to his statement and pointing out that he was merely stating facts, Pitroda hit back, asking, "Who said 55% will be taken away? Who said something like this should be done in India?"
The Congress has also criticized the BJP for sensationalizing Pitroda's words and putting them out of context.
Party spokesperson Jairam Ramesh, in his tweet on Wednesday, concurred with the senior Congressman, stating that his words in the interview were not presented on behalf of the party. He has called it a desperate attempt by the BJP to divert attention from Modi's 'malicious and mischievous election campaign'.
Ramesh posted, "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."
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.
— Sam Pitroda (@sampitroda) April 24, 2024
#WATCH | Chicago, US: Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress, Sam Pitroda says, "...In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has $100 million worth of wealth and when he dies he can only transfer probably 45% to his children, 55% is grabbed by the government. That's an… pic.twitter.com/DTJrseebFk
— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2024
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka School Edu Dept prohibits children from being made to dance to obscene songs
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka School Education Department has issued a circular strictly prohibiting children from being made to dance to obscene songs in educational and cultural programmes.
It stated that such dances would negatively impact students' mental health and moral values. It will create indiscipline and harm the sanctity of education.
"All the Deputy Directors (Administration) of the state's School Education Department have been asked to take strict measures to prevent children or students from dancing to obscene songs in all government, aided and unaided schools in the state," the office of the commissioner of the School Education Department said in a recent circular.
"If it is found that children are being made to dance to obscene songs, appropriate action will be taken against the headmaster or management of such school," it added.
The department also listed certain measures in this regard, which include: strictly prohibiting children from being made to dance to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes; selecting songs that are inspiring, positive, instilling national pride in children and reflecting the greatness, dignity, values, culture, and morality of the state.
Stating that the school headmaster and management are responsible for selecting songs and dances for cultural programmes, it said, they should also ensure that students wear decent clothes in dance or cultural programmes.
