Rahul Gandhi cheers roll back of tax on EPF withdrawal

Congress said Modi once again "quickly and meekly" caved in to the pressure exerted by Rahul Gandhi.

As the government rolled back the controversial proposal to tax EPF withdrawal, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday mounted a fresh attack on it, saying the attempt to tax the safety net of the middle class was "morally" wrong.

The Congress vice president, in a series of tweets, said the government was forced to listen to people and roll back the "patently unfair" tax on EPF.

"Finally the government was forced to listen to people and roll back the patently unfair tax on EPF.

"But the attempt to tax the safety net of millions of hard working middle class ppl was morally wrong & shows this govt's anti-people mindset (sic)", he said on the micro-blogging site.

In the face of all round attack, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday completely rolled back the controversial proposal.

He made a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha during which he also announced withdrawal of imposing monetary limit for contribution of employers to provident and superannuation fund of Rs 1.5 lakh for taking tax benefit.

Terming as "big victory" for people of the country the roll back of the proposal, Congress said Modi once again "quickly and meekly" caved in to the pressure exerted by Rahul Gandhi.

Congress spokesman Sanjay Jha tweeted "Modi, ONCE AGAIN, quickly/ meekly caves in to pressure exerted by @OfficeOfRG, fighting for the common man. #EPF(sic)".

Party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala termed it as a "big victory" for people of the country.

"Modi government was forced to withdraw the anti-people measure in the wake of nationwide protests of the salaried class. It is a big victory of people (sic)," he said on the micro-blogging site. 

• Union Budget 2016: Complete Coverage