Chidambaram hails PM's announcement on population control, respect for wealth creators

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcements on population control, respect for wealth creators and shunning single-use plastic.

Chidambaram said he hoped the finance minister and tax officials would pay heed to the prime minister's exhortation.

"All of us must welcome three announcements made by the PM on I-Day. Small family is a patriotic duty; Respect wealth creators and Shun single-use plastic.

"Of the three exhortations, I hope the FM and her legion of tax officials and investigators heard the PM's second exhortation loud and clear (sic)," he said in a tweet.

Chidambaram's statement comes after the death of noted entrepreneur V G Siddhartha, who committed suicide after being allegedly under "pressure" from the tax authorities, which he indicated in his last letter to his company's top management. Siddhartha was the son-in-law of former External Affairs minister S M Krishna, who has joined the BJP.

The Congress has also attacked the government over Siddhartha's death.

Chidambaram said, "The first and third exhortations must become people's movements. There are hundreds of dedicated voluntary organisations that are willing to lead the movements at local levels."