Is this increase in tax applicable even to long-term retail investors?
If yes, then that's a very bad move. It'll discourage retail investors.
When you have something in view for a family and that too for their good, you will take small decisions, but being a PM of a country, I think his decisions are fair enough to justify what he has in his mind taking into consideration country's good, when taking such hard decisions that can possibly even ruin the whole economy. Hope he knows what he's doing so far.
Politicians take decisions keeping in mind their public image and their votebanks.
Investments in equities are made from tax-paid income. They are also subject to STT (Securities Transaction Tax). Our equity market is in a fledgling state and needs to be nurtured. These are the reasons why long-term capital gains in equities are not subject to capital gains tax.