NEW DELHI: A tweet grabbed Nirmala Sitharaman‘s attention as the Union finance minister replied to the X user asking for relief for the middle class, highlighting the economic pressures they face.
“We deeply appreciate your efforts and contributions to the country, and you have our utmost admiration. I humbly request you to consider providing some relief for the middle class. I understand the immense challenges involved, but it’s just a heartfelt request,” the post read.
The finance minister, while responding acknowledged the concern and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government “listens to people’s voices”.
“Thank you for your kind words and your understanding. I recognise and appreciate your concern. PM Narendra Modi’s government is a responsive government. Listens and attends to people’s voices. Thanks once again for your understanding. Your input is valuable,” she said.
India’s middle class continues to grapple with economic challenges amidst rising inflation. Retail inflation surged to 6.21% in October, breaching the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) upper tolerance limit. Food inflation soared to 10.87%, driven by sharp increases in the prices of vegetables, potatoes, and onions. Wholesale price inflation also climbed to a four-month high of 2.36%, with food items showing a dramatic rise of 13.54%.
The government has faced pressure to address these issues, as inflation impacts household budgets, especially for middle-class families.
Opposition criticism
Sitharaman has faced criticism from opposition parties, particularly regarding her handling of middle-class concerns in the Union Budget. Critics claimed the budget prioritised the wealthy over salaried and middle-class citizens despite the Modi government’s introduction of tax benefits over the years to ease the burden on the middle class.
Sitharaman has defended the government’s approach, citing measures such as increasing the standard deduction for salaried employees, liberalising personal income tax slabs, and introducing exemptions like tax relief on family pensions.
Taxpayers earning up to Rs 7 lakh annually now benefit from exemptions, compared to Rs 2 lakh in 2014. Additionally, reforms in personal income tax slabs have reduced liabilities, and the tax burden on individuals earning between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh has dropped by nearly 60% over the past decade, after adjusting for inflation.
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