Kejriwal Unveils AAP’s Middle-Class Focused Manifesto, Criticizes Centre’s Policies
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal released the party’s manifesto on Wednesday, placing a significant emphasis on the needs and challenges faced by the middle class. In his video address, Kejriwal criticized the Centre’s approach towards the middle class, which he described as the “most victimized” section of society.
Kejriwal announced that AAP Members of Parliament (MPs) will raise the middle-class issue in Parliament and highlighted seven key demands aimed at providing relief to this demographic. These included increasing the education budget, implementing a nationwide cap on private school fees, offering scholarships and subsidies for higher education, increasing the health budget, removing taxes on health insurance premiums, and raising the income tax limit from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
He also proposed reinstating the 50% concession on railway travel for senior citizens, which had been previously offered but discontinued.
“This is our manifesto for the middle class,” Kejriwal said, adding that the middle class is subjected to “tax terrorism,” contributing significantly to the country’s economy while facing ever-increasing burdens. He emphasized the modest aspirations of the middle class: a home, quality education, and a decent life—goals that are increasingly difficult to achieve due to high taxes.
Kejriwal lamented that successive governments have “crushed and squeezed” the middle class, drawing attention to the high tax rates on even basic goods, such as milk and popcorn. He claimed that if a person earns Rs 10-12 lakh annually, nearly 50% of their income goes toward taxes, leaving them with little to fulfill their dreams. The high tax burden, he argued, is contributing to young couples’ hesitation in starting families, further fueling emigration.
Citing the sharp increase in emigration, Kejriwal noted that in 2020, 85,000 Indians left the country, a number that tripled to over 2.2 lakh by 2023. “It’s heartbreaking that our talented youth, who could be the future of India, are becoming the future of other countries,” he said.
Kejriwal contrasted the Centre’s approach with the efforts made by his government in Delhi, which, he claimed, has prioritized investing in people’s welfare. He highlighted reforms in education, such as the transformation of state-run schools that led to over four lakh students shifting from private to government schools. The AAP government also took action against arbitrary fee hikes by private schools and ensured refunds for excess charges, he pointed out.
Kejriwal’s manifesto stresses the party’s commitment to alleviating the struggles of the middle class, focusing on education, healthcare, and fair taxation as fundamental areas for reform.
