After Indian Overseas Congress Chairman Sam Pitroda made some off-the-cuff comments on inheritance tax in the United States, the Congress party has rushed in with clarifications, stating that the views of Pitroda do not necessarily reflect the party line.
Pitroda pointed out that in America, there is a heavy 55 percent inheritance tax, with the government reaping a major share. He proposed that property is bequeathed for public good.
Under this system, as Pitroda explained, if an individual owns assets worth $10 million, when they pass away, 45 percent will be inherited by their children while the rest will be left with the government. This kind of law does not exist in India.
Pitroda was at pains to point out that these kinds of issues need to be debated, that policies should be directed towards the masses and not just for the rich.
However, what Pitroda had said did not go down well with the BJP, which unleashed a venomous attack on the Congress.
While Pitroda claimed that the BJP was trying to twist his words to evade questions on critical issues, the Congress came out within hours of the controversy to distance itself from Pitroda's remarks.
"Sam Pitroda has been a mentor, friend, and one of the most influential persons in the world. He has made a huge contribution to India's growth. He is the Indian Overseas Congress President," Ramesh stated.
"Pitroda openly airs his views on issues he deems important. It is part of the democratic way of functioning. He is free to do so. In a democracy, people are free to express, discuss, and debate their personal views," Ramesh's statement continued.
"However, one must remember that Pitroda's views are not always the Indian National Congress views. In fact, at times they are divergent. His views are now being hyped and quoted out of context to draw attention away from the issues," he stated.
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