Sharp Rebuke & Tax Relief: President Takes a Stand, Nirmala Sitharaman Offers Respite

The Indian Parliament opened its 2025 Budget Session with the President of India address, but Sonia Gandhi’s harsh remarks overshadowed the proceedings. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced tax relief. In this report, we delve into the controversy surrounding the President and explore the tax benefits Sitharaman is offering to Indians.

Remarks on President of India by Sonia Gandhi

Who is Sonia Gandhi? Sonia Gandhi, an Italian-born politician, is a Member of Parliament and former Congress President. During a recent address, she referred to President Droupadi Murmu as a ‘poor thing,’ sparking controversy.

In response, Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India, issued a statement condemning the remarks as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘undermining the dignity of the high office.’ The statement further emphasized that advocating for marginalized communities, women, and farmers—as the President did during her speech—should never be dismissed.

This is not the first time Congress leaders have made controversial remarks about President Murmu. Previously, Congress leader Ajoy Kumar described her as representing an ‘evil philosophy,’ while Udit Raj faced criticism and was reprimanded by the National Commission for Women for making derogatory comments. These remarks have been widely debated in the political landscape

Tax Relief by Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2025-26 in the Lok Sabha. She announced that due to an increase in the tax rebate limit to ₹12 lakh, an additional one crore people will no longer have to pay income tax. For salaried employees, the standard deduction of ₹75,000 increases this limit to ₹12.75 lakh, ensuring they also fall under the tax-free category.

Budget 2025: Updated Income Tax Slabs

• Up to ₹4 lakh – No tax
• ₹4 lakh to ₹8 lakh – 5%
• ₹8 lakh to ₹12 lakh – 10%
• ₹12 lakh to ₹16 lakh – 15%
• ₹16 lakh to ₹20 lakh – 20%
• ₹20 lakh to ₹24 lakh – 25%
• Above ₹24 lakh – 30%

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also announced on Saturday that 36 life-saving drugs, including those for cancer and rare diseases, will be exempt from basic customs duty as part of the 2025 budget.