NEW DELHI, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The Indian government should consider charging the very rich more tax, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said in an interview with the CNBC TV 18 news channel aired on Thursday, but emphasized that he believed in 'stable tax rates.'

'We should consider the argument whether the very rich should be asked to pay a little more on some occasions,' Chidambaram told the network.

His comments in the lead up to his 2013/14 budget, due to be presented to parliament on Feb. 28. The Prime Minister's economic advisor recently recommended higher tax rates for the very rich at a time when India is trying to reduce a wide fiscal deficit.

(Reporting by Manoj Kumar; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel) Keywords: INDIA ECONOMY/BUDGET

(manoj.kumar@thomsonreuters.com)(+91 11 4178 1012)(Reuters Messaging: manoj.kumar.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

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