Political parties must not be taxed: AIKS leader

All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) general secretary and former CPI (M) Member of Parliament Hannan Mollah on Wednesday said political parties should not be taxed as they are not business organisation.

"Political parties should not be taxed because they are not a business organisations or commercial organisations. They are working for the public," Mollah told ANI.

Mollah statement's comes in wake of the government's decision to set threshold criteria for political parties enjoying tax exemption.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had on Tuesday announced that the government is planning to set threshold criteria for political parties enjoying tax exemptions, in order to check money laundering by outfits which do not contest elections.

The decision holds importance in the context of the Election Commission's recommendations to amend laws to bar tax exemption to parties which do not contest elections and win seats in Lok Sabha and assembly polls.

It also assumes significance in context of EC's recommendation to ban anonymous donations above Rs 2,000 to political parties.

The Finance Minister highlighted the need for making political funding as transparent as possible, saying donations must be smaller in size but huge in number.