Shashi Tharoor recites poem in Parliament to critique taxation

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor speaking in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session of Parliament
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Congress member Shashi Tharoor once again brought flair and poetic charm to the Lok Sabha on Monday, reciting a biting rhyme to highlight the Modi government’s taxation policies. With Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman present, Mr. Tharoor took a creative route to express concerns over rising taxes, surcharges, and GST complexities — a move that garnered attention both inside Parliament and across social media.

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With a disclaimer, Mr. Tharoor said, “Since the Finance Minister has been kind enough to join us, let me capture the present situation in some light verse.” What followed was a scathing yet humorous critique:

Tax our petrol, tax our shirt,

Tax our footwear, tax our dirt,

Tax our mobile, tax our calls,

Tax our hovel’s crumbling walls.

Tax our salary, tax our ride,

Tax our mithaion the side,

Tax our sorrow, tax our cheer,

Tax our future, year by year.

GST, income tax forms pile high,

Cesses, surcharges, make us sigh.

Roads with potholes, trains that derail

“Where‍ does‍ it‍ go?”‍Is‍ it‍ all‍ a‍ fail?

When we ask, “Is this all in vain?”

You smile and say, “It’s for the nation’s gain!”

And if we ask you to try and fix it,

You point and say, “you will be Viksit!”

Yet still we pay, with a patriotic heart,

Hoping our cash will play a small part,

In building a future, bright and fair,

For the nation we love, beyond compare!

The poem touched upon various aspects of everyday life — from mobile phones to sweets, sorrow to celebration — all allegedly under the weight of government taxes. His verse also questioned the utility of such levies with lines like “Roads with potholes, trains that derail / ‘Where does it go?’ Is it all a fail?”

Tharoor’s history of poetic jabs

This is not the first time Mr. Tharoor has turned to poetry to make a point in Parliament. In 2022, he delivered a now-viral poem critiquing inflation and economic woes, which began:

That poem, shared widely on social media, had drawn praise for its creativity and criticism alike for its sharp political messaging.

Nirmala Sitharaman’s reaction and social media buzz

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who listened intently during Mr. Tharoor’s poetic interlude, was seen smiling — a reaction that quickly went viral on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). The poem was met with applause from opposition benches, while BJP members largely refrained from direct responses.

Mr. Tharoor later shared the full poem on X, with users hailing his command of language and wit. Many noted how his verses bring a fresh tone to Parliamentary discourse while amplifying serious public concerns.