Why did Mahatma Gandhi oppose the British salt tax?

Mahatma Gandhi opposed the British salt tax because it represented an unjust burden on the Indian population, particularly those living in poverty. Under British colonial rule, the production and sale of salt were a lucrative state monopoly, which prohibited Indians from producing or selling salt independently.12

Instead, the British forced the Indian populace to purchase expensive, heavily taxed salt that was often imported. Because salt is a basic necessity, this policy disproportionately affected the majority of Indians who could not afford the inflated prices.12

To challenge this injustice, Gandhi launched the Salt March in 1930, a major act of civil disobedience and satyagraha. By marching to the coast and collecting salt from the shore, Gandhi and his followers symbolically and technically broke the law, effectively protesting the repressive economic policies that prioritized colonial profit over the welfare of the Indian people.12