Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday strongly refuted a media report that claimed the Indian government was considering a tax on foreign travel, calling it completely baseless and misleading. In a post on social media platform X, Modi wrote, 'There is not an iota of truth in this report. No such proposal is under consideration.'
Background of the Report
The report, which appeared in a section of the media, suggested that the government was mulling a tax on citizens traveling abroad to curb foreign exchange outflow and boost domestic tourism. It alleged that the proposal was being discussed in the finance ministry as part of measures to manage the current account deficit.
Government's Stand
Official sources clarified that no such plan exists. The finance ministry also issued a statement dismissing the report as speculative and without any factual basis. 'The government has not proposed any tax on foreign travel. Such reports are completely false and should be ignored,' the statement read.
Reactions
Political leaders from the opposition criticized the government for even allowing such speculation, while some economists pointed out that such a tax could harm the tourism sector and affect India's global image. However, with the Prime Minister's denial, the controversy has been put to rest.
The incident highlights the need for responsible journalism and fact-checking before publishing sensitive financial proposals.
