THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Jamshedpur, Feb 3: Advocate Kulwinder Singh, National President of Qaumi Sikh Morcha, has termed the proposed Union Budget for 2025-26 as a “joke” with the people of the country, calling it a “dream merchant” budget. He criticized the government’s decision to increase the income tax exemption from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh, stating that it does not align with the financial realities of the majority of the population.
He argued that the average income in India is approximately Rs. 1.80 lakh per annum, and the proposed exemption limit fails to provide any real relief to the lower and middle-income groups.
Standard Deduction Insufficient Relief
Singh further pointed out that increasing the standard deduction from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 75,000 is akin to “rubbing salt on the wounds” of the common people.
He stated that while the government has set an exemption limit of Rs. 12 lakh, the implementation of the Eighth Pay Commission will expose the reality—employees will not see any substantial benefits due to the continuous depreciation of the rupee and rising inflation.
The increased income tax burden, he said, will neutralize any financial gains, making essential commodities even more unaffordable for common citizens.
Tax Benefits Favor a Small Section of the Workforce
Singh highlighted that India has a workforce of approximately 55 crore people, out of which only 4.5 crore individuals work in organized sectors such as government, IT, multinational corporations, and large-scale industries. He argued that the proposed income tax exemption will benefit only this small section, leaving the remaining 51 crore workers in an unfair position.
He suggested that if the government truly cared about the welfare of these workers, it should have increased the Employee State Insurance (ESI) salary slab from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 50,000.
Concerns Over Economic Disparity and Rising Debt
Singh also questioned the economic disparity between states, pointing out that Gujarat, which is often considered one of the most developed states, has an average monthly income lower than Bihar—approximately Rs. 19,000.
He also raised concerns over the budget deficit, warning that the government will need to borrow heavily from external and internal sources, ultimately increasing the financial burden on the common citizens in the future.
Criticism of Agricultural and Urban-Centric Policies
With agriculture employing nearly 51% of the workforce, Singh criticized the government’s decision to provide benefits to only 100 districts under its proposed scheme, leaving out over 600 districts. He called this move discriminatory and harmful to the farming community, which forms the backbone of the Indian economy.
Singh also accused the government of focusing primarily on urban middle-class youth by reducing taxes on electronic and electric goods, ignoring other pressing economic concerns.
Lack of Support for Legal Fraternity
He expressed disappointment over the lack of substantial grants for the legal fraternity, despite repeated demands for an Advocate Welfare Fund.
