Kejriwal Raises Election Heat on BJP, Urges Centre To Present Special Budget For Middle Class

AAP chief described the middle class as the real superpower of India, putting forth seven demands before the Central government to address their problems.

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party's national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who described the country's middle class as 'victims of tax terrorism', put forward seven major demands before the central government. The middle class pays more than 50% of its income in various types of taxes, but in return, it does not get anything special from the government, he said.

In a video message on Wednesday, Kejriwal said that now the time has come to raise the voice of the middle class in Parliament to make sure that priority is given to their issues.

Kejriwal raised seven demands in the middle-class manifesto, which include a hike in the education budget from the current 2 per cent to 10 per cent, subsidies for higher education and a ceiling on private school fees. He also sought scholarships for higher education, an increase in healthcare spending, removal of taxes on health insurance premiums and an increase in the income tax exemption limit to Rs 10 lakh.

He wanted GST to be removed on essential goods to address inflation and sought more robust retirement plans and free healthcare for senior citizens.

Middle-Class Manifesto

Arvind Kejriwal said that they have prepared a manifesto exclusively for the middle class. "If you agree with it, then sign on it on our website middleclassmanifesto.com. The middle class will have to unite and raise its voice. If the entire middle class stands together, then the government will have to listen to them," he said.

Arvind Kejriwal questioned the indifference of successive governments towards the issues of the middle class. He said that in the 75 years of independence, the middle class has been considered as only a tax-paying machine and that governments have down nothing for them. Whenever the government needs money, taxes are collected from the middle class, he said, adding that this section of society has to struggle for the education, health, and security of their children. "If a middle-class family earns Rs 10-12 lakh annually, half of it goes into taxes. Despite spending on education and health, the governments have failed to give them relief," he said.

Brain Drain

Arvind Kejriwal said that due to the burden of tax and inflation, young middle-class families are being forced to leave the country. Presenting the figures, he said that in 2020, 85,000 Indians had left the country, while in 2023 this number increased to 2,16,219, which is a big loss for our country, he said.

Delhi Model:

Referring to the work done by the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi, Kejriwal said that they brought revolutionary changes in the field of education and health in Delhi and the budget of government schools was increased to Rs 16,000 crore. Thousands of children were refunded the excessive fees collected by private schools, he said, adding that relief was given in electricity and water bills.

"We started mohalla clinics, which became most popular, especially in middle-class areas. There are preparations to bring 'Sanjeevani Yojana' for senior citizens, in which elderly people above 60 years of age will get free treatment," he said.

Slams Critics of Freebies

Arvind Kejriwal slammed those who questioned the benefits being extended by the AAP government, saying that when the public's money is spent on the public, they are insultingly calling it freebies. "But if the debt of big industrialists is waived off, it is called development. We will raise the voice of the middle class from the street to the Parliament," he said.

Kejriwal said that they have tried their best to provide relief to the middle class in Delhi and will continue to do so. Our aim is that the middle class gets the right reward for their hard work, he said.

Arvind Kejriwal described the middle class as the real superpower of India and appealed to the central government to present a special budget for the middle class. He said that if the middle class unites, then no government can ignore them.

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