Wed Feb 12 05:24:06 UTC 2025: ## AAP MP Slams Budget, Says Middle Class Ignored Amidst Subsidies for Poor and Debt Relief for Rich

**New Delhi, [Date]** – Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Union Budget, accusing the government of neglecting the middle class while showering benefits on the wealthy and poor. Speaking during a parliamentary debate, Chadha argued that the budget offers subsidies and schemes to the poor, and debt forgiveness to the rich, leaving the middle class with nothing.

Chadha highlighted the narrow scope of tax exemptions, stating that only 6.68% of India’s 1.4 billion population benefits from the current tax structure. He pointed out that while 80 million file income tax returns, a significant portion report zero income, leaving a smaller segment actually paying taxes – a burden he claims disproportionately falls on the middle class.

He criticized the government’s assertion that tax exemptions boost consumption, arguing that high GST rates counteract any such positive impact. “The common man pays GST on milk, vegetables, and medicines,” Chadha said, emphasizing the everyday tax burden on the middle class.

Chadha further illustrated the plight of the middle class, noting stagnant salaries, minimal savings, and persistent inflation. He cited the slowing growth of FMCG companies as evidence of declining middle-class spending. He painted a picture of a class struggling with high expenses for necessities like housing, education, and healthcare, often accumulating significant debt. “Even after a lifetime of work, the middle class has to sink into 20-25 years of debt to buy a 2BHK house,” he stated.

Chadha concluded by asserting that the middle class, despite being the largest tax contributor, receives minimal benefits in return, its aspirations crushed by a relentless tax burden and the rising cost of living.

Read More