New Delhi: Vying for his attention like every
other Indian does around Budget time, Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee's daughter Sharmistha has written an open letter
asking him to exempt artistes like herself from income tax and
instead tax up to 95 per cent of the income of eve-teasers.
"At home, whenever I try to share my precious views with
you on the forthcoming budget, I am silenced by your steely
glance (hence the open letter)... I hope you will seriously
consider my suggestions regarding certain tax incentives as
well as levying new taxes," wrote Sharmistha Mukherjee, a
well-known danseuse.
Her letter, mostly in jest, also highlights the problems
that women face in the country, particularly in the national
capital.
Among the new taxes she wished be slapped were: "90 to 95
per cent income tax levied on... homo-sapiens found on the
roads of Delhi and NCR whose sole purpose in life is to push
women-driven vehicles off the road.
"The same could be applied to all road-side Romeos and
eveteasers across the country."
When contacted, Sharmistha confirmed writing the letter.
An exponent of Kathak, she asked her father to exempt
performing artistes from the income from their performances.
"This would keep us more focused on our art and not waste
time raking our (mostly) (sic) financially-challenged brains
trying to understand various tax-saving schemes," she wrote,
but asked Bollywood stars to be exempt from this exemption.
Also, in her wishlist was a "very special tax" on her
friends who refuse to partake of dinner cooked by her; "A
special Commonwealth tax levied on those found littering the
streets, imitating dogs whenever these see a wall and jay
walking."
The letter came on the eve of Budget, and it was not clear
if her father had taken note of the suggestions.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, February 25, 2010, 19:53