Sam Pitroda's inheritance law remark puts Congress on political defence. Here's what THIS tax means

The Congress went into firefighting mode on Wednesday (April 24) after it landed into trouble because of a remark made by its senior party leader Sam Pitroda over inheritance law. 

Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda made the controversial remarks while speaking to news agency ANI. 

"In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has 100 million USD worth of wealth and when he dies he can only transfer probably 45 per cent to his children, 55 per cent is grabbed by the government. That's an interesting law. 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," he said.

The remarks of Pitroda added fuel to the BJP's allegations that the Opposition party has been sketching a plan for the redistribution of wealth. 

Congress tries its best to douse the fire 

While trying to douse the fire, the Congress distanced itself from Pitroda's remarks and said that it does not reflect the position of the party. 

Taking to social media, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "Sam 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 Pitroda's views always reflect the position of the Congress. Sensationalising his comments now and tearing them out of context are deliberate and desperate attempts at diverting attention away from Narenda Modi's malicious and mischievous election campaign; that is anchored ONLY in lies and more lies," Ramesh added.

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Meanwhile, Pitroda also clarified that his US inheritance tax had no connection with the Congress manifesto and that his remarks were twisted "to divert attention from what lies PM is spreading about Congress manifesto".

"I mentioned 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. Who said 55% will be taken away? Who said something like this should be done in India? Why is BJP and media in panic?" said Pitroda. 

BJP's scathing attack on Congress

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a massive attack on Congress over Sam Pitroda’s comments stating that the party has plans to “destroy” the country.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reacting to Pitroda's remarks, said, "Congress says that it will impose an Inheritance Tax, and it will also impose tax on the Inheritance received from parents. The property you have accumulated through your hard work will not be given to your children. The claws of Congress will snatch that too from you...As long as you are alive, Congress will impose higher taxes and when you are no longer alive, it will burden you with Inheritance Tax. Those people who considered the entire Congress party as their ancestral property and handed it over to their children, now do not want Indians to pass on their property to their children."

BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya, meanwhile, wrote, "Congress has decided to destroy India. Now, Sam Pitroda advocates 50% inheritance tax for wealth redistribution. This means 50% of whatever we build, with all our hard work and enterprise, will be taken away. 50%, besides all the tax we pay, which too will go up, if the Congress prevails."

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Speaking about Congress Sam Pitroda's remark, India's Home Minister Home Minister Amit Shah said, "After Sam Pitroda's remark, Congress party is completely exposed. First of all, mention of 'survey' in their manifesto, Manmohan Singh's old statement which is Congress' legacy - that minorities have the first right over resources of the country, and now Sam Pitroda's remark citing the US that there should be deliberations on the distribution of wealth...Now when PM Modi raised this issue, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and the entire Congress party are on the backfoot that it was never their motive."

"But today, Sam Pitroda's statement has made Congress' motive clear before the country. They want to survey the private property of the people of the country, put it in government property and distribute it as per decision during UPA's regime. Congress should either withdraw it from their manifesto or accept that it is indeed their intention...I want people to take Sam Pitroda's statement seriously. Their intention is now in the open, its cognisance should be taken by people," he added. 

What is Inheritance Tax? 

There are two types of tax in the United States - estate tax and inheritance tax. There is estate tax in nearly a dozen US states and only six states have inheritance tax.

An estate tax is also called the "death" tax. It is a federal tax which the government imposes on property that is transferred after the death of the owner.

The estate owes the tax and not the beneficiaries. The federal estate tax ranges between 18 per cent to 40 per cent.

The inheritance tax, on the other hand, is levied on someone who has inherited property, money, or other assets in the US. 

This tax is applicable if a person dies and passes on assets in the states which have an inheritance tax. It does not depend on where the beneficiary is staying.

Interestingly, India had an inheritance tax 40 years ago and it was abolished in 1985 during the time of Rajiv Gandhi's government after the then finance minister V P Singh concluded that the tax had not been able to achieve its intended goal.

(With inputs from agencies)