Gupta ‘uncles’ object to tax evasion advertisement

‘‘Gupta Uncles’’ are angry. So are the other Vaishya community members who have, in a way, been visited by the tax man,...

‘‘Gupta Uncles’’ are angry. So are the other Vaishya community members who have, in a way, been visited by the tax man, quite rudely.

The reason for their annoyance — an advertisement issued by the Central Customs, excise and Service Tax department which shows a child saying ‘Papa aap toh kehte hain ki honesty is the best policy, phir Gupta uncle ke saath mil kar service tax ki chori kyun’.

The Guptas are not amused at being singled out, nor are their cousins, the Singhals, Agarwals and others of the community.

Story continues below this ad

‘‘It is shameful to single out the Vaishya community members like this and paint them as tax evaders,’’ says an angry Vineet Agarwal Sharda, national in-charge and UP chief of the Akhil Bhartiya Vaishya Samaj.

He says the government should not forget that the Vaishya community is the largest tax payer in the country which helps run the government, says Vineet Agarwal. Worse, they are miffed at the advertisement getting a child to ‘‘blaspheme the Guptas’’.

‘‘The government has not even spared the young vulnerable minds of children. Right from the tender age, their minds are being poisoned with hatred and bias,’’ Agarwal adds.

The Vaishya Samaj will hold a meeting over the issue. ‘‘The government should withdraw the offending advertisement. They should also ensure that no community is singled out like this in the future,’’ Agarwal said.