Attacks continue on left wing book stalls across West Bengal

Visuals of an argument in Siliguri in front of a book counter. Photo: Special arrangement

Attacks on book stalls of Left parties continued across West Bengal, with stalls in Ashoknagar and Siliguri targeted in the last 24 hours.

Even as several BJP leaders and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functionaries condemned the incidents, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari continued to criticize Left parties and their book stalls.

A stall in Siliguri came under attack when right-wing groups protested against the content of some books, leading to verbal altercations with workers. The CPI(M) also claimed on Wednesday (October 21) that one of its stalls at Islampur in Uttar Dinajpur district was attacked on Tuesday night, in which several workers were injured in the scuffle.

State Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta said Hindu pluralism and Bengalis’ love of books did not allow him to support the vandalism of book stalls by Left parties.

One of the vandalized stalls in West Bengal. Photo: Special arrangement

“It is precisely because we have imbibed the traditional Bengali reverence for books that we are horrified. That is why the BJP defended Salman Rushdie (he got his visa back during the Vajpayee regime) and Taslima. This tradition of Hindu pluralism guided us and not those who pretend liberal treatment of heritage in the media,” wrote Mr.

CM strikes a different note

Mr. Adhikari, however, struck a different note and continued his criticism of the Left parties and their book stalls. “We are all book lovers, but you do not follow any Sanatani Hindu rituals and do not oppose traditions, yet you want to set up book stalls in front of Durga Puja pandals,” he said, adding that the Left parties should sell their books from their party offices.

In recent days, several BJP and RSS leaders and other right-wing figures have condemned the attacks. Jishnu Basu, a prominent RSS leader in West Bengal, said there was no pride in destroying books or vandalizing book stalls.

Mr. Dasgupta also said that such vandalism could not be tolerated and that he was ashamed of such activities, especially when those responsible were using their party’s name.

BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya also condemned the attacks and said that some people are misusing the party’s name for such activities and the party will not tolerate it.

Opposition leaders, including Mamata-Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh and West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar, visited book stalls of Left parties to show their support and buy books.

Book stalls set up by the CPI(M), SUCI (Communist) and CPI(ML) Liberation organizations came under attack in different parts of the state. Incidents included the dismantling of stalls, arson and threats to stall workers.

On October 17, a bulldozer was brought to a temporary CPI(M) book stall in the Jadavpur area, apparently to demolish it. However, residents and party workers stood in front of the bulldozer and forced it to retreat.

Published – 21 Oct 2026 20:58 IST