Kolkata: Trinamool Congress Banga Bahini will stage a demonstration at Subodh Mulick Square on Tuesday, to protest against the decision of the Income Tax department to send notices to the Durga Puja committees, asking them to pay taxes.
The demonstration will be held between 10 am and 6 pm, demanding no taxation on Durga Puja and Durga Puja committees.
Trinamool Congress supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted in this connection on Sunday: "The Income Tax Dept has issued notices to many committees who organise Durga Pujas, asking them to pay taxes. We are proud of all our national festivals. These festivals are for all and we do not want any puja 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 Puja and Durga Puja committees."
"The Trinamool Congress Banga Janani Wing will sit on a dharna on Tuesday, August 13 at Subodh Mallik Square (Opp Hind Cinema) from 10 am to 6 pm. Organisers, participants and all people who love #Bangla may please join," she added.
It may be mentioned that in 2018, the Income Tax department had sent notices to some Durga Puja committees, asking them to furnish details of the income to conduct the puja. Mamata Banerjee, however, had asked them not to appear before the officials of Income Tax department.
Banerjee has said repeatedly that it was a burden on the Durga Puja committees. It may be mentioned here that the state government gives Rs 10,000 to each puja committee.
While addressing the gathering during a Save Green Stay Clean programme at Nazrul Mancha on August 1, Banerjee had said that the state government has made Durga Puja a global festival, while the tax for Gangasagar Mela has been waived.
After coming to power, the state government has turned the biggest festival of Bengalis into a grand spectacle. People from all over the globe come to see the Durga Puja carnival which is organised on Red Road. The decorations and artifacts that are used in major puja pandals are preserved at the permanent museum at Eco Park.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) uses Durga Puja to spread awareness among people against vector-borne diseases. The puja committees which play important roles in creating awareness are awarded.
Apart from members of Trinamool Banga Bahini, Trinamool and Trinamool Youth Congress supporters are likely to take part in the demonstration as well.