‘Middle Class Is Government’s ATM’: Shehzad Poonawalla Questions Taxes, Public Services:

Former BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla has raised questions about whether India’s middle class gets enough in return for the taxes and tolls it pays. In a video shared on Instagram as part of his social media initiative, ‘The Manifesto’, Poonawalla said middle-class families are paying taxes but still have to depend on private services for basic needs like education and healthcare.

Poonawalla described the middle class as an “ATM” for the government, saying it pays income tax, indirect taxes and tolls but does not always get good public services in return. He pointed to poor roads, weak infrastructure, pollution, corruption, paper leaks and a lack of accountability as some of the major problems faced by taxpayers.

He also questioned whether Indians paying taxes similar to people in Europe receive a similar standard of living. He said many families have to spend extra money on private schools for their children and private hospitals for their parents.

“The middle class earns and pays taxes, but what does it get in return?” Poonawalla asked.

Poonawalla said the problem is not limited to any particular government or political party. According to him, India’s middle class has faced these issues since Independence.

Middle class earns.
Middle class pays.
But what does the middle class get back? 🤔

Bad roads.
Air pollution.
Toxic water.
Corruption.

Time to AXE THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX for Salaried Middle Class till we get WORLD CLASS FACILITIES. #KhandanKaro #TheManifesto #MiddleClass… pic.twitter.com/chSJgAYwoZ

— August 16, 2026

Poonawalla’s Suggestions

Poonawalla called for lower taxes on the middle class, especially salaried employees. He said income tax slabs should be increased to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.

He also stressed that the government should be more accountable for how taxpayers’ money is spent. He said every rupee collected through personal income tax should be used properly and efficiently.

His comments come as he uses ‘The Manifesto’ to highlight issues faced by middle-class families and their growing financial pressures. The remarks were made shortly before he publicly announced his resignation as a BJP spokesperson. He said he had submitted his resignation on July 30 and also cited financial circumstances as one of the reasons for his decision.