Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who has been one of the strongest critics of the Modi Government, sprang a surprise on Friday as he welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcements on population control, respect for wealth creators and shunning single-use plastic. He said he hoped the Finance Minister and tax officials would heed to his exhortation.
“All of us must welcome three announcements made by the PM on I-Day. Small family is a patriotic duty; Respect wealth creators and Shun single-use plastic. Of the three exhortations, I hope the FM and her legion of tax officials and investigators heard the PM’s second exhortation loud and clear,” Chidambaram said.
Chidambaram has been the most vocal critic of Modi’s governance particularly on economic and security issues. He has been continuously questioning the Centre over abrogation of Article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir. Chidambaram, along with his son Karti, faces allegations of wrongdoing in allowing foreign direct investment when he was finance minister in UPA-1.
Chidambaram, who is a former finance minister, said, “The first and third exhortations must become people’s movements. There are hundreds of dedicated voluntary organisations that are willing to lead the movements at local levels.”
Addressing the nation on the 73rd Independence Day on Thursday, the prime minister expressed concern over “population explosion” in the country, saying it causes innumerable challenges for the coming generations, and asserted that the central and state governments should launch measures to deal with the issue.
Modi also said wealth creators should not be eyed with suspicion and that they are country’s wealth and should be respected. He urged people to shun single-use plastic and encouraged usage of jute and cloth bags to protect the environment.
Chidambaram’s response came weeks after the death of VG Siddhartha, founder of popular chain Cafe Coffee Day who in a purported suicide note mentioned as “harassment” from a senior income tax officer which forced him to end his life.
Former Infosys Director Mohandas Pai too alleged threat to businesses from “tax terrorism”, and a report said Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw was told by a “government official” not to speak about issues such as income tax harassment. Pai also recounted an incident, where an official called up his colleague in Infosys and threatened to “shut him down”.