Mamata Banerjee flays BJP for tax notice to apex body of Durga Puja organisers

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on July 22 lashed out at BJP-led central government for issuing a tax tice to Durga Puja Committees Forum, an apex body of festival organisers in state.

Accusing BJP of doing politics in name of Hindu religion at time of general election, chief minister said w same people are asking Durga Puja organisers to pay tax.

"During elections, y ( BJP) talk of Hindu religion and n y try to collect income tax from organisers of Durga Puja, greatest festival of Hindus. This is t right," Banerjee said.

She argued that 'puja committees' must t be put under income tax net.

Reacting to allegations, BJP claimed that she was afraid that money taken from chit fund companies through se committees, led by TMC leers, might come to fore.

Forum, which comprises Durga Puja committees, was last week asked by Income Tax department to file returns on its expenses me during festival.

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" Durga Puja committees collect donations from common people and also seek sponsors to organise 'pujas'. y don't do it from ir earnings. So, where is question of filing IT returns? This is an insult to pujas." she said.

Banerjee said festival is a social function and t a commercial one while government too has some social obligations.

" Durga Puja committees also generate thousands of employment opportunities during this time. I feel so b about manner in which y are being harassed by IT Department. I feel devastated," chief minister said.

BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha questioned why chief minister was worried.

"Is she afraid that some ugly truths might come out? fact is that several of her party leers have swindled crores of rupees through chit funds via a few puja committees. It will come out if proper investigation is held," Sinha said.

It was her government which h "tried to stop" Durga Puja in state for sake of vote bank politics and she should stop lecturing ors, Sinha said. 

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