Don't give expenditure details to IT dept: Mamata tells Durga
Hitting out at the Income Tax department for seeking expenditure details from prominent Durga Puja organisers, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday urged the committees to not furnish the information sought, as it was a move to "harass" them.
Banerjee also wondered whether the central government was trying to stop organising Durga Puja, the biggest festival for the people of the state.
"People from all walks of the society participate in Durga Puja festivities. They (Central government) have sent notice to Durga Puja committees seeking report on their expenditure.
"The puja committees are asked to pay income tax. But, they are non-profit organisations. They do not organise the pujas for making profit. Why would they pay income tax?" she said.
The IT department had sent a notice to the organisers in this regard on December 21 last year and asked them to report to its office on Tuesday.
The notice was served under section 133(6) of the IT Act.
"Are they ...