The extent of social inequality in India – even after 6 decades of independence, is to say the least, unbelievably appalling.
Our politicians, whose primary job is to reduce, if not remove, social inequality, clearly believe in the age old dictum, make hay while the sun shines.
The public, at large, continue to suffer, while the politicians prosper…and prosper.

Take a peep into the background of your neighbourhood councillor, MLA or MP.
Even if he has been in office for a single term, you will find his financial position has suddenly soared up.

Just go through the lists of our top 20, 100 and 200 income tax payers.
They are an eye opener for everyone.

For the latest year – 2007-08:

·         The country’s top taxpayer is from Delhi. He paid Rs 121 crores.
·         Of the top 10 taxpayers, five are from Mumbai and two from Delhi.
·         The top taxpayer among industrialists is Max’s Analjit Singh who is No. 15 in the list. He paid Rs 31.49 crores.
·         Conspicuous by their absence in the top 200 list are the two brothers, Mukesh and Anil Ambani.
·         Their mother, Kokilaben, is almost at the bottom of the list. She is No. 195. She paid Rs 4.46 crores.

The following are the figures for some other interesting personalities:                  
                                   
                                                 Sl No.                Tax paid (Rs. Crores)

·          Shah Rukh Khan               13                                  34.2
·          Mayawati                           18                                  26.26          
·          Akshay Kumar                   40                                 13.5
·        Sachin Tendulkar              81                                   8.8
(Sachin is just ahead of industrialist Kumarmangalam Birla who paid just Rs 48,271 less than the cricketeer.)

(The names of persons other than celebrities are not given here because this could invite threats from extortionists.)

Mayawati

Mayawati’s income, year-after-year, has ostensibly come from “gifts” from her admirers.
An admirable lady indeed!
On the basis of the taxes paid, her personal income this year is estimated to be about Rs 75-80 crores.

Some other interesting names in the list of top-200 taxpayers are:                                                                                     Rs. (crores)
·         Naresh Trehan  (cardio-surgeon)                                 8.4  
·         Salman Khan    (actor)                                                   7     
·         Abdul Telgi       (stamp-paper scamster)                    6.5
·         Sanjay Dutt       (actor)                                                  5.8  
·         Aishwarya Rai   (actress)                                             5.6  
·         Abhishek Bachchan (actor)    (paid just Rs 75,192 less than his wife)
·         Nandan Nilekani  (industrialist)                                   5.16 
·         Himesh Reshammiya  (music director-singer)         4.89 
·         Mukul Rohtagi   (lawyer)                                              4.85  
·         Aamir Khan (actor)                                                      4.72 
·         Azim Premji   (Wipro)                                                  4.68 

My Comments

Politicians have apparently done extremely well.
Though, only Mayavati has paid substantial taxes.
Bollywood personalities have done quite well even though most of the films have flopped at the box office.