CPI(M) Leader Calls Bookstall Vandalism an Attack on Democratic Thought

Kolkata: Calling the BJP an "enemy" of Bengali Hindus, CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty on Monday said vandalism of bookstalls set up by Left parties in West Bengal during Durga Puja is an attack on democratic thought. Chakraborty, a central committee member of the party, said the BJP came to power in West Bengal promising to safeguard the interests of Bengali Hindus, but its actions were the contrary.

"They are the enemies of Bengali Hindus," the former Jadavpur MP said, alleging that the BJP, which projects itself as a champion of Hindu Bengalis, was acting against their interests. Speaking to PTI, Chakraborty accused the BJP of creating unrest during Durga Puja, the biggest festival of Bengali Hindus.

"The autumn festival had been celebrated for generations, and Left parties had been setting up temporary bookstalls near puja pandals since at least 1952," he said. The CPI(M), SUCI and other Left parties have alleged that their bookstalls were vandalised at several places across West Bengal, from Dinhata in Cooch Behar district to Haridevpur in south Kolkata.

"The attackers are afraid of books and democratic thoughts, and that is why they vandalised the bookstalls," Chakraborty said. State Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta also condemned the vandalism, maintaining that he did not know who was behind the attacks or their political affiliations.

"I am ashamed that such a thing has happened, and such things should not be repeated," he told a Bengali news channel while visiting a Durga Puja pandal. Dasgupta said the incidents could not be treated as isolated, as vandalism had been reported at more than one location. "I have an ideological difference with the Leftists, but that does not mean I will not allow them to display or sell books," he said, stressing that freedom of thought and expression must not be curtailed.

In September, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had asked Durga Puja committees not to allow CPI(M) bookstalls outside pandals if they used the term 'Sharodotsav' (autumn festival) instead of 'Durga Puja' to describe the festival.