Sam Pitroda's Views Are Not Congress' Stand: Jairam Ramesh On Inheritance Tax Distribution Controversy

Hours after Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda's advocated for Congress' plan on wealth redistribution citing example of the United States-like inheritance tax in India, the grand old party distanced itself from the latter's comments.

In a social media post, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Sam Pitroda is known for keeping his opinions freely on social and political issues, but this does not mean that Mr. Pitroda's views always reflect the position of the Indian National Congress.

"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; that is anchored ONLY in lies and more lies," said Jairam Ramesh.

Earlier today, Sam Pitroda shared his views through a video amid intense Lok Sabha election campaigns. He said in the United States, there is an inheritance tax according to which the government is entitled to claim a 55 % share of a person's wealth while the owner can transfer only 45 % share to his children or family.

"...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 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. In India, you don't have that. If somebody is worth 10 billion and he dies, his children get 10 billion and the public gets nothing... So these are the kind of issues people will have to debate and discuss," Sam Pitroda said in the viral video.

"I don't know what the conclusion would be at the end of the day but when we talk about redistributing wealth, we are talking about new policies and new programs that are in the interest of the people and not in the interest of super-rich only," he added.

Soon after Sam Pitroda's video surfaced online, BJP leaders slammed Congress for anti-India policies.

BJP leader Amit Malviya said Congress has decided to destroy India through a 50% inheritance tax for wealth redistribution policy. Adding, whatever people will earn, 50% of it will be taken away.