Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, unveiled a seven-point "manifesto" aimed at addressing the long-standing grievances of the middle class, which he described as the "superpower" of India's economy.
In a video message on Wednesday, he criticised successive governments for neglecting this crucial segment of society and reducing it to a victim of "tax terrorism."
Kejriwal stated, "The middle class has been exploited for decades as a mere source of tax collection."
His seven-point charter outlines specific measures to alleviate the financial and social pressures faced by the middle-income group.
The proposals include increasing the education budget from 2% to 10% of GDP, capping private school fees, and introducing subsidies and scholarships to ensure quality education is accessible to all.
Healthcare spending, according to Kejriwal, should also rise to 10% of GDP, with the abolition of taxes on health insurance premiums to ease medical expenses for families.
Highlighting the financial strain on the middle class, he proposed raising the income tax exemption limit from ₹7 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
Additionally, he called for the removal of GST on essential goods, asserting that these taxes disproportionately impact middle-income households.
For senior citizens, Kejriwal advocated for robust retirement plans, including free healthcare at government and private hospitals, and demanded the reinstatement of the 50% concession on train fares, which was discontinued recently.
Accusing political parties of fostering a "slave mindset" within the middle class since independence, Kejriwal pledged that AAP Members of Parliament would prioritise the concerns of the middle class in upcoming parliamentary sessions.
"We will ensure that their voice is heard and their issues become central to political discourse," he said.
The announcement comes ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections on 5 February, where AAP is seeking a third consecutive term after securing 62 of 70 seats in the 2020 elections.
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