NDA Government Aims to Lower Taxes: Finance Minister


BANGALORE: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his first interview post budget exclaimed that it is the sole aim of the Narendra Modi led NDA government to lower taxes. This with concerns over economic slowdown while promising bold corrective measures to unburden the poor from rising prices, revive investor confidence and cut excessive expenditure.

During the interview, Jaitley also clarified that the "bitter pill" mentioned by Prime Minister Modi relates no way to higher taxes.

 He also added that it could mean higher electricity charges as well as a cut in subsidies. FM said, "Bitter pill could mean that for utilities the user will pay for what they use. Unless users pay, utilities can't survive," reports The Times of India.

Brushing aside criticism of not having done enough reforms in the Budget, Finance Minister has said that, this was the beginning of the journey and he did all he could do under the given circumstances. "This is the beginning of our journey, not the end. Abhi hum jitna kar sakte the, humne utna kiya hai. And all the decisions are not taken on day one," said Arun Jaitley, who presented his maiden Budget on July 1.

Refuting the criticism, he said the government has taken important steps that are necessary but not taken in the past 10 years, he added. "Partly it is because of my own and the Prime Minister's economic ideology of lower taxation, more economic activity, more spending and more saving."

Responding on a criticism for not having a detailed roadmap for fiscal consolidation, Jaitley remarked, "I have not spelt it out in details because I have provided for Expenditure Management Commission. If anybody feels that in 45 days you can come out with the scheme of rationalisation of subsidies to which people in the last 66 years have not found an answer, we must rate the agencies then."

With the sole determination of the Finance minister and Prime Minister to lower taxes, India will indeed see ‘Acche Din’ in no time.

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