New Siddhant (सिद्धान्त) of Union Budget – Pro poor means, anti-rich and anti-middle class

Statistically, the shoe and slipper that get stamped the most are the median (middle) sized one.

Similarly, in every ecosystem, the givers, and producers (green plants) are the one who suffers the worst. The bull that gets least care and food is beaten regularly to pull the cart and once it became incapacitated, is heartless culled and eaten. The donkey that is used for carrying loads is always left to search own food for survival. This is the law of nature.

The kind gesture and benevolence shown by our Honorable Union Minister of Finance – Shri Arun Jaitley towards sincere tax payers and middle-income group are nothing but mere juxtaposition of natural law upon middle-class people.

We have to be pro-poor. We also must be ‘benevolently cruel’ to rich to encourage some level of generosity to level the inequality in the society. But it appears our Honorable Minister of Finance has written a ‘new Siddhant’ (principle) that pro-poor means, one has to be anti-rich and ‘hard and kindles’ towards the middle class.

In the name of containing inflation, boosting rural economy, this budget is likely to increase unemployment crisis of much educated youths. In the world of galloping and spiraling inflation, increasing and introducing new ‘cess’ would mean nothing but killing such business enterprises. Assume the ‘cess’ in restaurants will certainly deter many middle-class people to visit restaurants. The consequence will be two-fold. The restaurant industry will slowly start to de-grow. This de-growth will not limit its influence to restaurants but also would cruelly affect the employment prospects of many graduates with hotel management etc. This is only one example.

The big question is will such scenario ever boost the eateries on the roadside and improve the economy of people who run such eateries, quite unlikely.

The budget is although look political, but its politics is very rude and rudimentary. Discouragement to research not only would hamper innovation but also would undermine the employment scope in research organizations.

This budget is more for those who evade tax, who have not disclosed their wealth, hold black money and are on litigation. This government appears to have favored those to settle all disputes easily and make the record straight. From the perspective our nation, there is nothing wrong in providing such amnesty to such group in the society.

The question is when the Government shows such kindness to those who evaded tax, failed to disclose their assets, hold black money etc., why has to be cruel to middle-income group who are honest and regular payers of tax?

Why is tax being levied upon even on savings in PF?

It was the middle-income group that predominantly voted for Modiji in 2014.

Is this budget the real thanksgiving ceremony of Modiji to those who elected him?

Why tax exemptions on savings should not be given to middle-income group? Spent your money and become poor or pay tax on everything or do not earn is the new ‘Uvacha’ our Honorable Minister of Finance is providing to middle-income group and service providers in India.

Creating a new distress cannot be an answer to an existing distress. If that were true, Maoism would have had great reach and acceptance in the world.

When people accuse the Government of not having all inclusive political vision, certainly we will say, this budget is not an all inclusive one as it has totally neglected the sorrow and sufferings of taxpaying middle class.

Dr S Ranganathan