Taking a dig at the Congress party over Sam Pitroda’s remarks on inheritance tax, BJP candidate from Raipur Lok Sabha constituency Brijmohan Agrawal has said that his “uncalled-for comments” reflected the vicious mindset of the grand old party which is bent upon in distorting the united fabric of the country.
Speaking exclusively with The Pioneer, Agrawal, who turned 65 today, said: “His controversial statement makes it clear that the Congress is now a sinking ship. Several senior leaders have abandoned it with a heavy heart amid the Lok Sabha elections. It’s clearly visible that the Congress has neither any leader nor leadership and there’s no future as well for this party.”
Agrawal, an eight-time MLA and a prominent face within BJP, currently serves as a minister in the Vishnu Deo Sai government. His winning streak in Assembly elections since 1990 and previous ministerial roles underscore his political acumen. He has never lost any election ever since he took a plunge into politics.
The Congress has fielded Vikas Upadhyay, a Brahmin candidate, to contest against Agrawal from Raipur constituency. While Upadhyay attained his first MLA victory in 2018, he faced defeat in the 2023 elections from the Raipur City West assembly seat.
The highest number of candidates, 38 in total, including five women, are in the fray in the Raipur Lok Sabha seat where polling will be held in the third and final phase on May 7.
However, Agrawal further said: “Advocating for an inheritance tax can be seen as detrimental to the principles of individual liberty and property rights. Taxing inheritances can disincentivize wealth creation and entrepreneurship as individuals may be less motivated to work hard and accumulate assets if a significant portion of their wealth is subject to taxation upon passing it on to their heirs.
“Furthermore, implementing an inheritance tax can lead to unintended consequences, such as family businesses being forced to sell off assets or downsize in order to pay the tax bill, potentially harming economic growth and job creation. It can also create complexities in estate planning and administration, imposing additional burdens on families already dealing with the loss of a loved one,” he added.
“Additionally, there are concerns about the fairness and effectiveness of inheritance taxes. They may disproportionately affect certain families, particularly those with valuable assets tied up in land or businesses, while wealthy individuals may find ways to evade or minimize their tax liabilities through loopholes and tax planning strategies,” Agrawal opined.
Critics argue that instead of focusing on punitive measures like inheritance taxes, policymakers should prioritize reforms that promote economic opportunity and mobility for all citizens, such as reducing barriers to entrepreneurship, improving access to education and healthcare, and creating a level playing field in the economy.
Ultimately, while addressing wealth inequality and promoting social justice are important goals, implementing an inheritance tax may not be the most effective or equitable solution. It is essential to carefully consider the potential consequences and explore alternative policy approaches that better balance the needs of society with respect for individual rights and freedoms, the BJP candidate said.
