TMC’s Saugata Roy slams Nirmala Sitharaman over Tax Bill, calls corruption claims baseless

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy has strongly criticized Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s remarks in Parliament regarding corruption in the West Bengal government. Roy called the Finance Minister’s statements about corruption in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as "factually incorrect" and politically motivated. He demanded evidence from Sitharaman when she made the claims but pointed out that she failed to provide any proof, describing her comments as mere opinions. Roy emphasized that West Bengal is on the right path and accused the Centre of depriving the state of its rightful dues.

Sitharaman, in her address, had accused the Trinamool Congress of weakening government institutions and indulging in "systematic corruption." However, Roy rejected this accusation and stated that the Centre has been withholding the state’s dues, thereby hurting West Bengal’s financial well-being. He added that despite these claims, the state remains committed to its development agenda and has been progressing steadily.

The controversy unfolded as Sitharaman also introduced the new Income Tax Bill 2025 in Parliament, which seeks to replace the 1961 Income Tax Act. The Finance Minister outlined the bill's key features, including a streamlined structure, reduced complexity, and an emphasis on minimizing litigation. Sitharaman stated that the new bill would simplify tax filing procedures, mentioning that the previous law had 819 sections, whereas the proposed law would contain only 536. She also highlighted that the new tax system is built on five core principles aimed at making the process "simple" and transparent.

Despite Sitharaman's defense, opposition members, including Roy, expressed concerns about the bill’s effectiveness. Roy labeled it "mechanical" and questioned whether it would indeed simplify the tax process. The bill was passed in Parliament and referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for further scrutiny. The committee is expected to submit its report by March 10.