Claim: Congress stated that if it involves energy, it’ll implement 'Inheritance Tax'.
Fact: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has denied the allegation of implementing inheritance tax. There isn’t a point out of inheritance tax within the occasion's manifesto. Aside from this, Sam Pitroda, who created controversy together with his assertion, made it clear that he had given just one instance of inheritance tax.
Fact Check: Amid preparations for voting for the second section of Lok Sabha elections, the confrontation between BJP and Congress has elevated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi whereas addressing an election rally in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday (April 24) attacked Congress. He stated, “Congress is saying that it’s going to introduce inheritance tax. It’s speaking about imposing tax on the inheritance obtained out of your mother and father.” The PM additional stated, “Congress's mantra is – Congress's lit, with life additionally, even after life.”
Tweet associated to PM's assertion right here Click on Will be seen.
After the assertion of Prime Minister Modi, its dialogue began on social media. Many customers on social media platform X shared the video of PM Modi's assertion about Congress' alleged plan to implement inheritance tax.
The submit associated to PM's assertion may be seen by clicking right here. ,submit 1, submit 2, submit 3,
What’s 'Inheritance Tax'?
'Inheritance tax' or inheritance tax is a tax imposed on the property of a deceased individual. It’s levied on the property which is to be distributed among the many heirs of the deceased individual. Many international locations like Japan, America and France impose such taxes.
Fact test/verification
To examine the claims of implementing 'Inheritance Tax', key phrases had been searched on Google by writing Inheritance Tax and Congress. Throughout this time, many such reviews had been obtained by which it was advised that this assertion was given by Sam Pitroda, Chairman of 'Indian Abroad Congress'. In an interview given to information company ANI from America, he gave a press release relating to 'Inheritance Tax', which sparked a political controversy in India.
How did the controversy begin?
Information company ANI interviewed Sam Pitroda on April 24, 2024. Its full video was shared on the company's YouTube channel with the title “Is Congress advocating inheritance tax in India? Sam Pitroda gave massive hints within the interview”.
by ANI x However solely on April 24, 2024, a small a part of Pitroda's interview was shared. In this video, the individual being interviewed says, “However sir, there may be one factor on which the Prime Minister is pointing in the direction of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi or the promise made within the occasion's manifesto. If Congress involves energy, then the occasion will “It’s going to conduct a survey to search out out who has how a lot cash within the nation after which distribute it among the many individuals.”
(Screenshot of submit shared on X by way of ANI)
Sam Pitroda says on this, “There’s inheritance tax in America. So if somebody has property price 100 million {dollars} and when he dies, solely 45% of the property goes to his kids. 55% goes to the federal government. That is an attention-grabbing legislation which says that you’ve created your property throughout your dying, so now it’s best to depart half of it to the general public. This isn’t the case in India. If somebody dies, his kids get nothing. The legislation (inheritance tax) says that you simply get half of it (property). shall be obtained, whereas half will go to the general public.”
He provides, “So these are the problems that individuals must debate and talk about. I don't know what the conclusion shall be in the long run, however after we speak about wealth distribution we’re speaking about new insurance policies and new programmes. “We’re speaking about. That is within the curiosity of the individuals, not simply the super-rich.” It’s clear from this video byte that Pitroda is giving the instance of tax relevant in America. Equally, he talks concerning the Monopoly Act and doesn’t suggest to implement that sort of tax in India.
Simply gave instance of American inheritance tax: Sam Pitroda clarifies
Because the controversy over inheritance tax elevated in India, Sam Pitroda clarified that his assertion has been distorted by 'Godi Media'. serialized on x Submit He stated, “It’s unlucky that what I stated on inheritance tax in America has been distorted by Godi media to divert consideration from the lies that the Prime Minister is spreading concerning the Congress manifesto. The Prime Minister's remark about snatching Mangalsutra and gold is completely not true.”
He stated, “In my normal dialog on TV, I discussed the US inheritance tax within the US solely for example. Can't I point out the info? I stated these are points that individuals want to debate and There must be a debate. This has nothing to do with the coverage of any occasion together with Congress.”
Pitroda additional stated, “Who stated that 55% shall be taken away? Who stated that one thing like this could occur in India? Why are BJP and media nervous?”
There isn’t a point out of 'Inheritance Tax' in Congress's Nyaya Patra.
We examined the 'Taxation and Tax Reforms' part of the Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections. It mentions enactment of the Direct Tax Code, abolition of angel tax, lowering the tax burden on MSMEs owned by people and partnership corporations and redesigning the GST Council. Nevertheless, we didn’t discover any point out of any inheritance tax or any such tax on ancestral property.
(Screenshot of Congress manifesto)
The phrase inheritance is discovered solely at one place in all the Nyay Yatra. Beneath the ladies empowerment part, the occasion promised, “Men and women ought to have equal rights in issues of marriage, succession, inheritance, adoption, guardianship, and so on. We’ll evaluate all legal guidelines and set up equal rights between women and men.” Will guarantee equality.”
There isn’t a point out of inheritance tax on the X accounts of Congress and senior leaders
We requested you to search out out about inheritance tax Congress Additionally searched the official X account. Nevertheless, we didn’t discover any point out there that the occasion would impose inheritance tax if it kinds the federal government. Even after doing a complicated search on X, we couldn’t discover any details about Inheritance Tax or any tweet by occasion leaders on this regard.
congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Priyanka Gandhi And Rahul Gandhi Has additionally not made any tweet relating to inheritance tax.
Not solely this, however no latest submit has been discovered by which any senior Congress chief has stated that he’ll implement inheritance tax in India.
The factor to notice right here is that in the course of the tenure of UPA 2.0, Congress chief after which Union Minister P. Chidambaram had reportedly given the thought of implementing inheritance tax as a result of low tax-GDP ratio within the nation. He had stated, “We are literally underestimating our capability to mobilize assets, particularly tax assets. Since non-plan expenditure is tough to regulate, the tax-GDP ratio ought to be elevated. Particularly By imposing consumption tax and inheritance tax.” Nevertheless, inheritance tax was by no means carried out.
The Property Responsibility Act, 1953 was abolished in the course of the Rajiv Gandhi authorities.
In India, inheritance tax was imposed below the Wealth Tax Act 1953. Nevertheless, it was abolished by the Rajiv Gandhi led Congress authorities in 1985. VP Singh, who was the Finance Minister of the nation at the moment, had reportedly opined that this Act had did not convey stability within the society and cut back the wealth hole.
When BJP leaders talked about inheritance tax
On many events, BJP leaders have additionally been seen advocating inheritance tax. A 2014 report stated that BJP's Jayant Sinha had supported a rule like inheritance tax for the property of wealthy individuals to be given to their kids after their dying.
(Screenshot of Firstpost web site)
In line with reviews, in 2018, late Arun Jaitley had stated that hospitals, universities and different establishments in overseas international locations had been getting enormous cash as a consequence of inheritance tax. Nevertheless, this isn’t the case in India.
It was advised in lots of reviews in 2019 that the Modi authorities might re-implement inheritance tax.
'There isn’t a plan to implement inheritance tax, there isn’t any point out within the manifesto': Clarification of Congress leaders
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has made it clear that his occasion has no intention of implementing inheritance tax. Kharge stated throughout a press convention in Kerala, “We have now a Structure, we’ve no intention. Why are you telling us their views? Only for votes, they’re taking part in this type of recreation.”
Congress MP clarifying the occasion's place JaiRam Ramesh Mentioned, “Congress has no plans to implement inheritance tax. In reality, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had abolished the Property Responsibility Act in 1985.”
Shashi Tharoor Mentioned, “Nowhere on this (Congress manifesto) is there any speak of taking anybody's gold or snatching the mangalsutra of ladies. Sam Pitroda isn’t within the manifesto committee. This isn’t a part of our agenda. That is his private opinion. You can’t take somebody's private opinion and say that that is the target of the Congress Social gathering.
What’s the conclusion?
Fact Check has discovered no proof that Congress has stated it’s planning to implement inheritance tax. This tax was first talked about by Congress chief Sam Pitroda in an interview. Nevertheless, he then clarified that he was giving the instance of an American tax. Aside from this, occasion president Kharge and different leaders have rejected this declare. There isn’t a point out of any such tax within the Congress manifesto.
This story was first revealed on Newschecker.in as a part of Shakti Collective. Aside from the headline, a brief excerpt of the story and the opening paragraph, this story has not been edited by ABP Dwell workers.
Rajneesh Singh is a journalist at Asian News, specializing in entertainment, culture, international affairs, and financial technology. With a keen eye for the latest trends and developments, he delivers fresh, insightful perspectives to his audience. Rajneesh’s passion for storytelling and thorough reporting has established him as a trusted voice in the industry.
