RSS, Bengal minister condemn vandalism at Left book stalls; CPI(M) blames BJP

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and a senior West Bengal cabinet minister have condemned the vandalism of Left party book stalls by alleged Right-wing groups across Kolkata and other parts of the state, even as the CPI(M) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of encouraging the attacks.

The controversy has put the BJP under scrutiny five months after coming to power in West Bengal, particularly over its efforts to reach out to Bengali-speaking voters by paying tribute to the state’s prominent writers, scientists, freedom fighters and educationists.

Jishnu Basu, prachar pramukh of the RSS’s east zonal unit, said the organisation did not support vandalism or the destruction of books.

“The RSS never supports such vandalism and destruction of books. We condemn such acts of cowardice. All people have the right to express views,” Basu said.

Referring to videos circulating on social media from Kolkata and various districts, Basu told Hindustan Times that the people involved had not been identified and the organisation did not know who had sent them.

Swapan Dasgupta says criticism of Left cannot justify vandalism

West Bengal finance minister Swapan Dasgupta also condemned the incidents, saying his opposition to Left parties did not justify preventing them from displaying or selling their books.

“These incidents have made me hang my head in shame. I have been a staunch critic of the Left all my life and continue to be so. But that does not mean someone can stop the Left parties from displaying or selling their books. Who are these vandals?” Dasgupta told the media.

Reacting to videos that purportedly showed the alleged perpetrators claiming to be acting on the orders of chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, Dasgupta said, “How dare they carry out vandalism in our name!”

The BJP has denied involvement in the incidents. Party spokesperson Sayantan Basu said, “The BJP is not involved in any of these incidents.”

CPI(M) accuses BJP of backing attacks

CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty dismissed the condemnations by Basu and Dasgupta, accusing them of attempting to distance themselves from the incidents.

“Jishnu Basu and Swapan Dasgupta are trying to be naive. These acts of vandalism started under the patronage of the BJP. Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said in the assembly that he would not allow these book stalls unless we met his conditions,” Chakraborty said.

Adhikari had told the West Bengal legislative assembly on September 10 that community Durga Puja committees should allow CPI(M) and other Left parties to set up book stalls near their pandals only if they called the festival Durga Puja instead of Sharodotsav, meaning autumn festival. Communists in Bengal have traditionally used the latter term because of their atheist beliefs.

The stalls at the centre of the controversy were set up by the CPI(M), the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the CPI(ML) Liberation. Since last week, the three parties have alleged that stalls near community Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata and the districts were either ransacked by members of Hindutva groups or removed by police on the grounds that they lacked permission.

Videos that emerged after the vandalism purportedly showed those involved claiming they were acting on Adhikari’s instructions. The claims have intensified the political dispute, although the identities of the alleged perpetrators have not been established.

Row intensifies after Kolkata stampede

The controversy escalated following Saturday’s stampede at the Chore Bagan Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, in which 19 people died. The CPI(M) alleged that hours after the tragedy, police attempted to use a bulldozer to demolish one of its book stalls in Jadavpur, south Kolkata.

Police did not comment on the allegation.

On Sunday, All India Trinamool Congress legislator Kunal Ghosh visited the Jadavpur stall to express solidarity with the Left party. He also bought a book on Biman Bose, a veteran CPI(M) leader and chairman of the Left Front.

The incidents have sparked a wider debate over the freedom of political parties to display and sell literature at public events, as well as the circumstances under which such stalls can be permitted near community Durga Puja pandals.