New Delhi, March 27: Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha on Thursday lambasted the Government of India over the growing tax burden on common citizens, questioning why Indians pay heavy taxes but still lack world-class facilities.
“Tax to live, tax to die – and tax on every breath!” Chadha said in a fiery speech in the Rajya Sabha. “The burden of tax begins even before a child opens their eyes,” he added.
Citing examples, Chadha said the tax cycle begins right at birth.
“Distribute sweets to celebrate a child’s birth, and you have to pay 28% tax!” he said.
He mentioned how even childhood expenses are heavily taxed. “There’s 12% GST on toys. School bags, shoes, books, pencils – everything is taxed,” he noted.
Chadha argued that taxation only intensifies with age. “At 18, buy a bike and you face road tax, GST, insurance tax, and toll tax,” he said.
Even the dream of owning a home is costly, he added.
“Buy land and you pay stamp duty. For construction materials, there’s GST. Build the house – more GST. Sell it – capital gains tax!”
The MP also criticized the taxation of senior citizens’ pensions. “Even after retirement, there’s tax on every medicine, treatment, and insurance policy,” he said, calling it unjust.
Slamming the quality of public services, Chadha accused the government of failing to deliver despite massive tax collections.
“We pay taxes like developed countries — but get services like Sub-Saharan nations!” he said.
He pointed out that while 80 crore people in India rely on free ration, almost everything is still taxed.
“The economy is choking under the weight of taxes. FMCG sales are down, cars aren’t selling,” Chadha said, warning that excessive taxation is stifling growth.
“The government collects massive amounts of tax from the public, but in the name of public services, there are only promises,” he added.
