The Assam unit of the Trinamool Congress has slammed the BJP-led State government for imposing a tax on Durga Puja celebrations. The government issued a directive stating that every Durga Puja committee would be required to pay a fee for organizing the event and idol immersion. These fees, amounting to ₹300 and ₹100 respectively, came into effect on September 22. Trinamool Congress President, Ripun Bora, expressed disappointment over the imposition of taxes on sacred spiritual events and criticized the government for targeting religious ceremonies as a means to generate revenue. Bora urged the government to revoke the decision, stating that it had hurt religious sentiments. The imposition of the Durga Puja ‘tax’ has especially angered the people in the Bengali-dominated Barak Valley of southern Assam. Pradeep Dutta Roy, the chief convenor of the Barak Democratic Front, described the government’s decision as deplorable and an affront to the celebration of Durga Puja.