‘No tax on Durga Puja committees’: TMC on day-long protest as Mamata sets stage for fresh clash with Centre over I-T notices

 After a brief lull in the tussle between the Centre and Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal, a fresh duel seems to be brewing up between the two sides. The Trinamool Congress on Tuesday launched a day-long protest against income-tax notices being served to several Durga Puja committees in the state. The dharna at Kolkata’s Subodh Mallik Square has been organised by TMC’s Banga Janani wing on the call of party chief and CM Mamata Banerjee. Slamming the Centre for income-tax notices served to Durga Puja committees, Mamata Banerjee on Sunday cited the Bengal government’s withdrawal of the tax which was imposed on Ganga Sagar Mela.
“The Income Tax Dept has issued notices to many committees who organise Durga pujos, asking them to pay taxes. We are proud of all our national festivals. These festivals are for all and we do not want any pujo festival to be taxed. This will be a burden on the organisers. Bangla govt withdrew tax, which was earlier there, on Ganga Sagar Mela. We protest and demand no taxation on Durga pujo and Durga pujo committees,” the Bengal CM said in a tweet, exhorting people ‘who love Bengal’ to join TMC’s protest against the move.

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