Kolkata, Oct 31 The SFI on Saturday organised a rally here in protest against alleged attacks and vandalism of bookstalls run by Left organisations during Durga Puja celebrations across West Bengal.
The rally was attended by academic Pabitra Sarkar and filmmaker Kamaleswar Mukherjee, among others, who cautioned against attempts to intimidate progressive and democratic voices and undermine the culture of reading and intellectual discourse.
The participants highlighted the importance of reading, rational thinking and freedom of expression, while accusing the RSS and the BJP of promoting divisive politics and opposing progressive ideas.
Carrying books and placards, the protesters marched around College Square and concluded the rally near the statue of Bengali social reformer and educationist Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
Addressing the gathering, Students Federation of India (SFI) Central Executive Committee member Shuvajit Sarkar said fascist and communal forces had historically opposed books.
SFI, the students’ wing of the CPI(M), sought to underline the “importance of reading, rational thinking and freedom of expression,” while accusing the RSS and the BJP of “promoting divisive politics and opposing progressive ideas.”
“Fascist and communal elements have always opposed books because books preach rationality and oppose the very idea of irrational subordination. We will uphold books and fight this battle against fascist forces like the RSS and BJP,” he said.
The rally, attended by hundreds of Left-leaning book lovers, was organised to highlight alleged attacks on bookstalls set up by the CPI(M) and other Left organisations, including the CPI, SUCI (Communist) and rights body APDR, during the Durga Puja festivities.
The alleged incidents of vandalism and intimidation of those manning the stalls were reported from Jadavpur, Entally, Ashoknagar, Nagerbazar and several other places during the state’s biggest festival, the organisers claimed.
(PTI News)
