Kolkata, Aug 15 (IANS): Joint General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Surendra Jain on Tuesday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for terming the alleged imposition of tax on Durga Puja committees as 'Puja Jijia (jizya) Tax' and claimed that Hindus in Bengal are forced to pay such a 'tax' under her government in the form of cut-money.

Banerjee on Tuesday hit out at the Income Tax authorities for declining that they had served IT notices to Durga Puja committees here, saying the statement is aimed at creating confusion among the people and termed the intended taxation of the Puja committees as 'jizya', a tax that was used to be levied on non-Muslims under certain Muslim rulers of India.

"Mamata has always been the queen of lies. The Income Tax department has issued statement saying no IT notices have been sent to the Durga Puja committees. Still Mamata has used the 'jizya' term in her statement. Actually the 'jizya' tax is being collected by her government in the form of cut money. It seems the Hindus of Bengal are living in the rule of Allauddin Khilji. They have to pay 'jizya' tax on everything. This misrule will soon end," Jain said.