By A Elango
New Delhi: India’s Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has urged his countrymen not to evade taxes while celebrating festivals such as Christmas.
“You do shopping and celebrate festivals, but also pay your taxes,” Jaitley said while addressing a Christmas gathering organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in New Delhi on December 13.
The finance minister noted evasion of taxes as a “strange feature” in the Indian society. “We are deeply religious; we are deeply ethical; we are deeply moralistic. We also believe in family values. However, we do not mind avoiding taxes,” said the minister who expressed the hope that people will change as the Indian society evolves.
The minister was the chief guest at the program attended by parliamentarians, diplomats, social and religious leaders.
Jaitley said Christmas has great relevance for the modern society beset with enormous sufferings and violence.
“One really has to wonder the relevance of religions, and Christianity in particular, in the context of the time that we are passing through,” he said. He noted collapse of countries, refugee problems, growing inequalities, and the menace of terrorism as major problems facing the world.
Describing himself as “a keen student of Christianity” although born and practicing another religion,” Jaitely applauded Christians for the compassion, service and efforts to reach to the most needed.
Jaitley, who studied at Delhi’s Jesuit-managed St Xavier’s School from 1957 to 1969, noted that innumerable number of Christians have sacrificed their personal comfort to work for larger society. “Christianity in India has produced individuals of great quality, who have left their footprints behind and society acknowledges them,” he added.
He singled out from among those present P J Kurien, Deputy Speaker of the Rajya Sabha, and Justice Kurian Joseph, a Supreme Court judge, as example of Christians who have made a mark in India society.
CBCI President Cardinal Baselios Cleemis urged the gathering to work for dignity of people and the nation.
Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, CBCI secretary general, welcomed the gathering while Fr. Joseph Chinnayyan, Deputy Secretary General proposed vote of thanks.