‘Statement twisted to divert attention’: Sam Pitroda after BJP backlash on US inheritance tax remark

He had added: “It says you in your generation, made wealth and you are leaving now, you must leave your wealth for the public, not all of it, half of it, which to me sounds fair. In India, you don’t have that. If somebody is worth 10 billion and he dies, his children get 10 billion and people get nothing… So, these are the kind of issues people will have to debate and discuss.”

The comments, however, faced the backlash of the BJP with their spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla saying that the “Congress want to grab ones hard earned tax payed resources”.

#WATCH | Chicago, US: Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress, Sam Pitroda says, “…In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has $100 million worth of wealth and when he dies he can only transfer probably 45% to his children, 55% is grabbed by the government. That’s an… pic.twitter.com/DTJrseebFk

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2024

“Congress, through Sam Pitroda the closest aide of Gandhi Vadra family, is essentially saying that 55% of what you earn will be taken away on your death. If you are a farmer — 55% of your land will be taken. If you are a businessman — 55% of your business will be taken. 55% of your savings you kept for your children. Ironically Gandhis built a huge treasury for their own children & son in law but they want to grab your hard earned tax payed resources,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).

However, clarifying the statements, Sam Pitroda said: “Who said 55% will be taken away?  Who said something like this should be done in India? Why is BJP and media in panic?”

He added: “It is unfortunate that what I said as an individual on inheritance tax in the US is twisted by Godi media to divert attention from what lies PM is spreading about Congress manifesto. PM’s comments Mangal Sutra & gold snatching is simply unreal. I mentioned US inheritance tax in the US only as an example in my normal conversation on TV. Can I not mention facts? I said these are the kind of issues people will have to discuss and debate. This has nothing to do with policy of any party including congress.”

The Congress, while reacting to the controversy, said that “sensationalising his comments now and tearing them out of context are deliberate and desperate attempts at diverting attention away from Mr. Narenda Modi’s malicious and mischievous election campaign.”

Senior leader Jairam Ramesh said: “Sam Pitroda has been a mentor, friend, philosopher, and guide to many across the world, including me. He has made numerous, enduring contributions to India’s developments. He is President of the Indian Overseas Congress. Mr Pitroda expresses his opinions freely on issues he feels strongly about. Surely, in a democracy an individual is at liberty to discuss, express, and debate his personal views. This does not mean that Mr. Pitroda’s views always reflect the position of the Indian National Congress. Many times they do not.”