Mayawati's Politics, Taxes and Dalit Interests
It has been widely reported that Mayawati has been paying large amounts of advance tax on gifts received from her supporters on her birthday. Last financial year she had reportedly paid Rs. 15 cr as advance tax implying an income of Rs. 60 cr approximately. She has also gone on record that the gifts from her poor Dalit supporters range from Rs. 10 to Rs. 10000. Assuming people on an average gifted her Rs. 1000 each we are talking in excess of 600,000 donors and well wishers. When the income tax investigated her gifts, it has been reported that the addresses provided of the donors were all fake. It is also pertinent to discuss as to apart from Mayawati who else are the beneficiaries of this money game. What is the loss and gain of Dalits in this game of exchange of money? The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal dismissed the case against her as gifts could be an accepted form of income for a politician. I smell a rat in that decision. Can you imagine an individual, not in politics, putting il...