Raghav Chadha, AAP Rajya Sabha MP, lashed out at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday over her remarks in Parliament regarding his understanding of taxation. The confrontation arose after Sitharaman countered Chadha's criticism of the Union Budget and its tax provisions. In a video message shared on X, Chadha called Sitharaman's remarks a "personal attack" and stressed that she had chosen to respond only to his explanation about tax rebates rather than the broader issues he had raised.
 

Chadha defended his point, stating that a person earning Rs 12.76 lakh annually would have to pay tax on the entire Rs 12.76 lakh, not just the Rs 76,000 exceeding the Rs 12 lakh threshold. He emphasized that the tax rebate is applicable to income up to Rs 12 lakh, but any income above that is taxed in full, not just the incremental portion. The AAP MP accused Sitharaman of trying to confuse taxpayers with complex technical explanations.
 

Chadha expressed his respect for the Finance Minister’s position and age but urged her to refrain from making personal remarks. He argued that the government's claim of marginal relief was insufficient and that it was not effectively communicated to the public, especially regarding the tax liabilities for those earning slightly over Rs 12 lakh annually.
 

Sitharaman had previously criticized Chadha's explanation during her budget response in the Rajya Sabha, accusing him of misleading Parliament on the taxation structure. She clarified that marginal relief is designed to reduce the tax burden for those earning just above the Rs 12 lakh threshold. The Finance Minister also raised concerns about Chadha's credibility as a chartered accountant, suggesting that his understanding of taxation was flawed.
 

This exchange highlights ongoing disagreements over the Union Budget and tax relief provisions, with both leaders sticking to their positions on how taxpayers should be treated under the current framework.