New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP's) national convenor on Wednesday released his party's poll manifesto for middle class days ahead of the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025. While releasing the poll manifesto, Kejriwal said that the middle class is the victim of "tax terrorism" and has become an "ATM" for the Centre. Kejriwal said that he and his party would take issued of middle class from roads to Parliament.
The former Delhi CM also listed seven demands from the Centre ahead of the polls. "Today, we appeal to the central government to recognise India's true superpower—the middle class. I announce that AAP will be the voice of the middle class from the streets to the Parliament (sadak se sansad tak). We demand that the next national budget be dedicated to the middle class," Kejriwal said in a video message.
Kejriwal's Video Message:
"Governments don't do anything for the middle class, but whenever they need them, they target the middle class through a weapon of tax. Middle class pays huge amount of taxes, but gets nothing in return. India's middle class has been reduced to the government's ATM. It is a victim of tax terrorism," he added.
Kejriwal's 7 demands From The Centre:
- Kejriwal demanded that the allocation for education in the Union Budget should be increased from two per cent to 10 per cent and capping on the fees of private schools across the country,
- Subsidy and scholarships for higher education,
- Health budget should also be increased to 10 per cent,
- Income tax exemption limit should be increased to 10 lakh from seven lakh,
- Remove GST on essential commodities,
- Strong retirement plan and pension schemes for senior citizens and free treatment for them across all government and private hospitals.
- Restart the scheme of giving 50 per cent discount to senior citizens in railway tickets.
The elections for 70-member Delhi Assembly are scheduled to take place on February 5 and votes will be counted on February 8. Delhi will witness a fierce competition between the AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Kejriwal-led party will be eying third term, while the BJP is trying its best to dethrone the AAP. The Congress, which failed to open its account in the previous two assembly polls, will be hoping to increase its vote share.
