NEW DELHI, 14 February 2025: AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has hit back at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, accusing her of using technical jargon to confuse the middle class on tax policies while avoiding key economic concerns.
Responding to Sitharaman’s remarks during the Rajya Sabha debate on the Union Budget 2025-26, Chadha said he was denied the opportunity to clarify his stance in the House, forcing him to address the issue publicly. He reiterated that the ₹12 lakh threshold is a tax rebate, not an exemption, meaning income beyond this limit is fully taxable.
Chadha explained that if an individual earns ₹12.76 lakh annually, tax is applied to the entire amount, not just the ₹76,000 exceeding ₹12 lakh.
He accused the Finance Minister of misrepresenting his example and sidestepping pressing issues like rising costs for railway passengers, middle-class financial struggles, trade tariffs, and rupee depreciation.
Criticizing Sitharaman’s personal jabs, Chadha urged her to maintain decorum and focus on addressing real economic challenges rather than engaging in personal attacks.
