'Axe personal income tax': Poonawalla's post for 'salaried middle class' after renewed BJP exit bid

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla on Monday called for personal income tax on the salaried middle class to be scrapped, arguing that taxpayers are not getting adequate public services in return.

"Middle class earns. Middle class pays. But what does the middle class get back?" Poonawalla said in a post on X, listing "bad roads", "air pollution", "toxic water" and "corruption" among the issues faced by the middle class.

"Time to AXE THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX for Salaried Middle Class till we get WORLD CLASS FACILITIES," he said.

Poonawalla resigns from BJP

Poonawalla's remarks came on the same day he announced his resignation from all positions and primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party, citing "pressing financial and personal circumstances".

He said he had submitted his resignation letter to BJP national president Nitin Nabin and requested him to accept it. Poonawalla had initially offered to resign unconditionally on July 30 but said the party had asked him to reconsider his decision.

"After long and hard contemplation, I have arrived at a final decision that I would like to press for relieving me from my role as National Spokesperson and active primary membership of the BJP," Poonawalla said in his resignation letter, according to PTI.

He said events involving certain individuals, about whom he had previously informed the party leadership, had reinforced his decision.

Poonawalla also said he would move to the private sector but would continue to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP's vision and work wherever possible.

'Leaving the Vyavastha, not the Vyakti'

"Like I said, I am only leaving the Vyavastha, not the Vyakti or Vichar," he said.

He thanked Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Nabin and other senior BJP leaders, as well as the "Sangh Parivaar", for their "guidance, love, respect".

"In no other country and no other party would a story like mine, of a young, Pasmanda Muslim, non-dynast, even be possible," Poonawalla said.

His resignation came after he changed his X bio on July 31, removing references to the BJP, which had triggered speculation about his possible departure. There was no official confirmation from the party at the time.

Poonawalla joined the BJP in December 2017 after quitting the Congress.