NEW DELHI: The Opposition and the treasury Benches locked horns in Lok Sabha on Monday over issues such as US tariff, GST and fund allocation for states during a debate on the Finance Bill 2025. Initiating the debate on the Finance Bill, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticized it, calling it a “classic case of patchwork” and labeling India’s GST as the “most complex tax” in the world.
On the other hand, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra accused the government of favoring crony capitalists over small businesses and workers.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Anurag Thakur recalled that Mughal emperors Babur and Aurangzeb had imposed jizya on Hindus, accusing opposition parties of appeasing Muslims.
Tharoor accused the BJP government of facing structural challenges in economic management. He compared the Finance Minister’s Budget speech to a garage mechanic who, unable to fix the brakes, makes the horn louder, and now, with the Finance Bill, she tells taxpayers, “I couldn’t repair the roof, but I brought you an umbrella.”
“This Finance Bill is a classic example of patchwork solutions. At a time when the nation needs clarity, conviction, and decisive leadership, the government’s economic management is grappling with deep-rooted structural challenges,” said Tharoor.
Moitra accused the government of creating special rules to benefit select businessmen while ignoring the needs of the broader economy. “All tax rules are made for Vishwakarma’s India, not Kuber’s India. But when it comes to crony capitalists, there are special rules,” she said.
The TMC MP highlighted the case of a Special Economic Zone in Gonda, Jharkhand and alleged that a particular businessman received undue advantages. “In 2016, a rule stated that an SEZ could not consist solely of a power plant. But for a very special friend, this was allowed,” she claimed.
Speaking during the debate, the former Union minister said, “Figures like Rana Sanga and Shivaji are our heroes, yet the opposition tries to tarnish their legacy.” He added, “Their ideals should have been those of Rana Sanga, Shivaji, and Maharana Pratap, but instead, they remember Babur and
Aurangzeb, who imposed taxes on Hindus.” Jizya was a tax historically levied on non-Muslim subjects by Muslim rulers. Thakur also questioned on how low the Opposition would go for vote-bank politics, urging Congress to avoid appeasement politics. “You have proposed reservation for Muslims only for appeasement,” he said.