Exposing the Modi government’s economic policies and their impact on ordinary citizens, AAP Chief Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said the country will not be fooled. While PM Modi’s friends got ₹14 lakh crore loan waivers and ₹1 lakh crore annual tax exemptions, the common man and middle class bore the burden. She said the backbone breaking implementation of GST on anything and everything has pushed household savings to a five-decade low, even as industrialists enjoy tax-free profits on Russian crude while citizens pay for costly fuel.
Demanding relief for farmers, the AAP spokesperson sought immediate release of ₹60,000 crore pending to Punjab in this time of crisis and protection for Indian cotton farmers.
Interacting with the media, AAP’s Chief Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar stated, “The BJP should not make the mistake of thinking people are fools. The people of this country know how PM Modi’s friends were given loan waivers of ₹14 lakh crore. The people of this country know how every year, industrialists were given exemptions of ₹1 lakh crore through corporate tax cuts, and the entire burden of this was borne by the common man and the middle class.”
Highlighting the effects of taxation policies, Priyanka Kakkar said, “The people of this country know how the BJP imposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) on everything — milk, curd, buttermilk, even on ‘pandals’ and ‘prashad’. Because of this, we are now witnessing the lowest household savings in the last five decades. This is the lowest ever, and we have seen its devastating impact on manufacturing.”
She contrasted, “Even today, the PM promised equipollent taxes for everyone. But it’s as far from the truth as it can be. For example, industrialists are buying cheap Russian crude oil and selling it at huge profit in the open market and the government has given tax exemption on that profit. Meanwhile, the public is facing that brunt and still have to buy expensive fuel, which was not brought under the ambit of GST.”
Pointing to the plight of farmers, Priyanka Kakkar emphasised, “If the government really wants to do something in the interest of farmers, then first of all, Punjab’s farmers — who are going through a huge tragedy at this time — must be helped. The ₹60,000 crore dues pending for Punjab, which also include the GST component, should be given to Punjab so that it can be utilised in this time of crisis.”
She further added, “If the BJP-led central government wants to help farmers, then help the cotton farmers of our country, because you have removed all taxes on cotton coming from the United States, making imports free. The entire burden of this is being borne by our farmers.”
Questioning the BJP’s self-congratulation on reforms, Priyanka Kakkar said, “The people understand everything very well. You brought a tax regime that broke the backbone of the common people, and now when you are thinking of making some reforms in it — reforms that have not even been implemented yet — you are patting your own back. I think this is very wrong.”
