PM Modi has remarkably enhanced India’s stature in a manner unparalleled by his predecessors. The influence of Jawaharlal Nehru, a significant figure in the annals of NCERT history textbooks, appears to be waning. Nevertheless, the editor of the Congress’s mouthpiece, the National Herald, seems to be oblivious to this reality and, consequently, levied allegations against PM Modi via Twitter.
Sujata Anandan, a consulting editor at the National Herald, tweeted, “Dear bigots, Narendra Modi didn’t lower your taxes. He didn’t build any smart cities or airports (just inaugurated those started by UPA). He didn’t get you oxygen during Covid to save the lives of your precious ones. PM Modi can’t even get you cremation or burial space. He didn’t show “red eyes” to China when they grabbed our territory. The bridges he built collapsed within days, and his highways flooded within hours. PM Modi sold the railways, he sold your life insurance to his cronies. He didn’t pay 15 laks into your account, he did not get you two crore jobs per year.”
“He didn’t lower the prices of essential commodities or petrol. I could list much more good that he DID NOT do for you in these nine years. So when you say he worked round the clock for you, all you mean is that HE VALIDATED YOUR HATE. Hate for Muslims and other minorities. And he didn’t do one other thing, repeat ONE OTHER THING, well other than that. So stop saying he is a great leader because he IS NOT (with apologies for paraphrasing original critique on Trump).”
In a display of unmistakable personal animosity, the editor’s words are laden with venomous intent. Nevertheless, it is our responsibility today to meticulously fact-check each claim made by her. By doing so, we aim to enlighten not only the unsuspecting Twitter users but also those who perceive her as a credible and responsible editor, ensuring they are aware of the accuracy and validity of her arguments.
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Fact Check
We will start the investigation by singling out every allegation Sujata Anandan made.
Claim: “Narendra Modi didn’t lower your taxes”
Fact Check: LiveMint has published a meticulously detailed report on this subject. According to Live Mint, “in 2014, the then finance Minister of India Shree Late Arun Jaitley, raised the personal income tax exemption limit from ₹2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh. For senior citizens, the exemption limit was increased from ₹2.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh. The limit for deduction under Section 80C was increased to Rs1.5 lakh from ₹1 lakh while deduction limits for interest on home loan was increased to ₹2 lakh from ₹1.5 lakh.”
This report discusses every nine years of budget brought by PM Modi Government. In 2016, “The tax rebate was raised from â‚ą2,000 to â‚ą5,000 for those with income not exceeding â‚ą5 lakh per annum under Section 87A.”Â
In 2017, “-The tax rate was reduced from 10% to 5% in the â‚ą2.5 lakh – â‚ą5 lakh bracket.
-The finance minister also reduced the tax rebate under Section 87A from â‚ą5,000 to â‚ą2,500, applicable to those taxpayers whose annual income is up to â‚ą3.5 lakh.
In 2019, “the interim budget brought good news for the middle class. Those earning less than ₹5 lakh ended up paying zero tax.”
In 2020, “New tax slabs were announced in Budget 2020. The taxpayers were given the choice to either remain in the old regime with exemptions and deductions or opt for the new reduced tax rate without those exemptions.
Zero tax for income up to â‚ą2.5 lakh
5% for income between â‚ą2.5 lakh and up to â‚ą5 lakh
10% for income between â‚ą5 lakh and up to â‚ą7.5 lakh
15% for income between â‚ą7.5 lakh and up to â‚ą10 lakh
20% for income between â‚ą10 lakh up to â‚ą12.5 lakh
25% for income between â‚ą12.5 lakh and up to â‚ą15 lakh
30% for income above ₹15 lakh.”
In 2023, “This year 2023, there were many changes in the income tax rules effective 1 April 2023. Changes in income tax slabs to tax rebate limit raised. No LTCG tax benefit on some debt mutual funds are some of the major changes effective from 1 April 2023.”
PM Modi has displayed unwavering dedication towards uplifting the underprivileged and middle-income segments of society. This commitment is vividly evident in the budgets formulated during this period. Notably, the government undertook a comprehensive revamp of the tax system, introducing a new framework that particularly benefits individuals belonging to the lower and middle-income brackets.
Claim: “He didn’t get you oxygen during Covid to save the lives of your precious ones.”
Fact Check: As per the seventh schedule of the Indian Constitution, the subject of health falls under the jurisdiction of the state list. Nonetheless, the efforts of the Indian government in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic have garnered recognition on a global scale. However, amidst the distressing times experienced during the pandemic, the issue of Oxygen shortages brings to mind the actions of the Delhi government.
During the shortage of oxygen, the Delhi High Court scolded the Delhi government on the issue of Oxygen Cylinders. The court said, “Set your house in order. Enough is enough. If you cannot manage it, tell us, then we will ask the central government to send their officers in and do it. We will ask them to take over. We cannot let people die like this.” Moreover, it’s public knowledge that as of the year 2022, the country has more than 4,000 PSA plants which produce medical-grade oxygen.
The court’s judgment reflected its belief that the central government would be more adept at resolving the Oxygen crisis compared to the government led by Arvind Kejriwal. Once again, Sujata’s argument proves to be unfounded. She attempts to attribute all the negative occurrences in the country over the past nine years solely to the Modi government. Anadan disregarded the fact that there are 28 other states and 8 Union territories, each with their own respective governments. Instances such as bridge collapses and road damage fall under the purview of state governments. Therefore, the failures of state governments, be they led by the Congress party or other opposition factions, cannot be solely attributed to the central government.
Claim: “He didn’t show “red eyes” to China when they grabbed our territory.”
Fact Check: The memories of the Galwan Valley clash and the Doklam Standoff remain vivid. In 2020-21, a skirmish broke out between the Chinese and Indian armies in the Galwan Valley (LAC), with the Indian army responding in a manner that should have been delivered back in 1962 during Nehru’s tenure as Prime Minister. According to the Russian news agency TASS, a scuffle in the Galwan Valley resulted in the reported deaths of 45 Chinese soldiers. It is also worth mentioning the Doklam Standoff, which occurred on June 18, 2017. As part of Operation Juniper, approximately 270 armed Indian troops, accompanied by two bulldozers, crossed the Sikkim border into Doklam to prevent the construction of a road by Chinese troops. The standoff lasted for a duration of 2 months, 1 week, and 5 days.
Claim: “He sold the railways, he sold your life insurance to his cronies.”
Fact Check: It is deeply concerning that the editor of a national newspaper has displayed a lack of discretion in disseminating baseless statements via social media. It is important to address the matter of railway lands and their leasing. In 2021, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the government’s intention to monetize assets. Assets worth six lakh crore, aiming to generate revenue through the leasing of government assets. Accordingly, the railway sector has devised plans to lease land, with a projected target of generating 10,000 crores by the year 2024. In addition to this, Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav has made abundantly clear that railways will never be privatised.
The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) remains a public sector insurance company. And there are no indications of any changes to its current status in the foreseeable future. It is essential to highlight the composition of public and private holdings in LIC. Notably, the list of top 15 companies that hold significant shares in LIC reveals that the state-run bank IDBI possesses over 49 percent of shares, while the State Bank of India holds more than 8 percent. In essence, LIC stands as a state-run insurance company, with a majority of its shares owned by other government-run banks.
Claim: “He (PM Modi) didn’t build any smart cities or airports (just inaugurated those started by UPA).
Fact Check: According to the Hindu, “The government on May 23 said that more than 90% of the funds allocated under the Smart Cities Mission have been utilised till now. Meanwhile, 73% of the projects have been completed.
As of May 1, a total of â‚ą38,400 crore was released under the Smart Cities Mission, of which â‚ą35,261 crore has been utilised, Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri informed a Parliamentary Consultative Committee.
The Smart Cities Mission has around 7,800 projects worth ₹1.8 lakh crore, of which more than 5,700 projects worth ₹1.1 lakh crore have been completed. Mr Puri said, adding that all remaining projects were expected to be completed by June 30, 2024.”
When examining the landscape of airport infrastructure, it becomes abundantly clear that over the span of the past nine years, the Modi government has made resolute efforts to bolster India’s infrastructure. However, we will support our findings with substantial proof. According to ANI, “ India’s aviation industry has experienced significant growth in the past nine years under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. The number of operational airports in the country has doubled from 74 in 2014 to 148 in 2023.”
Recently Union Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia reiterated his commitment while saying, “In the next 5 years India will have 200-220 more airports, heliports, and water aerodromes.”
Claim: “He didn’t pay 15 laks into your account, he did not get you two crore jobs per year.”
Fact Check: At Only Fact, we have diligently conducted a fact-check on the audacious claim put forth by the opposition. Our comprehensive analysis, available here and here, definitively reveals that PM Modi never made any promises regarding the distribution of 15 lakhs to every individual and providing two crore jobs per year. These statements have been grossly misinterpreted and deliberately manipulated to serve the agenda of the opposition. The truth, as unveiled by our investigation, refutes these misleading allegations.
Claim: “He didn’t lower the prices of essential commodities or petrol.”
Fact Check: India’s remarkable inflation figures have garnered envy worldwide. A recent article by Nikkei Asia highlighted that India, through its strategic purchase of Russian oil, has effectively countered the looming threat of inflation. By referring to the embedded link, one can observe the trends in average retail inflation spanning from 1960 to 2023. This data showcases India’s commendable performance, maintaining an inflation rate of nearly 6 percent even in the face of global challenges such as the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In contrast, many Western nations grapple with inflation rates exceeding 10 percent. It is truly noteworthy that despite being a deeply interconnected and globalized nation with escalating imports, India remains resilient against the perils of inflation.
In the aforementioned analysis, we have effectively refuted each unsubstantiated claim put forth by Sujata Anandan, which appears to be driven by a deep-seated animosity towards Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Her tweets are replete with falsehoods and inflammatory rhetoric, devoid of any factual basis. It is worth noting the irony of such accusations coming from someone associated with an organization, and its de facto owners, namely the Gandhi family, who have faced severe allegations of corruption. The National Herald case continues to generate headlines, but regrettably for reasons that cast a negative light on the organization.
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