The Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed the recommendations of the Vijay Kelkar task force on direct and indirect taxes but felt that the agriculture sector should not be taxed.

"The raising of tax exemption to Rs 100,000 and 20 per cent upto Rs 400,000 as also Rs 50,000 on housing loans
would be beneficial for the middle class," party spokesman V K Malhotra said.

Malhotra who is in the seven-member Rajnath Singh Committee set up by the BJP to study the Kelkar proposals said
the interests of middle class should be protected as it forms the bulk of the population alongwith senior citizens and
women.

The Rajnath Singh Committee is meeting on Saturday to review the recommendations of the Kelkar task fto draw up its suggestions for the government.