Calcutta High Court to Hear CPI(M)’s Plea Over Alleged Vandalism of Durga Puja Bookstalls

The Calcutta High Court will conduct an urgent hearing on Tuesday on the alleged vandalism of CPI(M)-organised bookstalls near community Durga Puja pandals in several parts of West Bengal during the ongoing festive season.

The court admitted a petition seeking an urgent hearing on Monday. The matter is likely to be heard by the vacation bench of Justice Partha Pratim Roy.

The petition, which also seeks compensation, was filed by the CPI(M)’s Jadavpur area committee in South Kolkata.

Allegations of vandalism at CPI(M) bookstalls have emerged from various parts of the state, including Kolkata, since the Durga Puja festivities began. On the night of Saptami, two bookstalls in the Jadavpur area were allegedly vandalised, triggering political debate. The CPI(M) has now approached the court over the incidents.

Several intellectuals and civil society members have condemned the alleged vandalism. State Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, a journalist-turned-politician, also criticised the incidents, describing them as unfortunate and shameful.

“I could have understood if the event was an isolated incident. But it happened in three or four places. I cannot accept this in any way. We have ideological differences with the Left Parties. But why do some people not let them sell books? Who are they? Who gave them this right? Such matters are reprehensible. I feel ashamed. May this never happen again,” Dasgupta said.

Although CPI(M) leaders and activists do not traditionally participate in the religious rituals associated with Durga Puja, party workers have for years set up bookstalls near popular community pandals across West Bengal, offering Communist and Marxist literature.

The stalls are also considered a way for the party to engage with the public, as large numbers of people visit the pandals during the festive season.

This year, in addition to Communist and Marxist literature, the CPI(M) bookstalls also featured works by prominent Bengali writers and poets, including Rabindranath Tagore and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.