The Communist Party of India (Marxist) unit in Tripura has strongly condemned the recent demolition of a bookstall set up in front of Chhatra-Yuva Bhavan, accusing authorities of attempting to suppress progressive literature in the state.
According to party officials, the CPI(M) has a longstanding tradition of setting up bookstalls during events like Durga Puja to promote progressive ideas and literature. Ratan Das, the CPI(M) West district secretary, alleged that a task force from the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) demolished the bookstall on Tuesday under the pretext that it was obstructing the road.
Das claimed that the AMC’s justification for the demolition was baseless and that it was a deliberate act to suppress the promotion of progressive literature. “While many temporary food stalls operate on the streets during Puja without permission, our bookstall was targeted unjustly. This is a form of new fascism, with the BJP being scared of books,” he stated.
In response to these allegations, Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumder defended the action, stating that the bookstall was impeding the movement of devotees. “I instructed the task force to remove all unauthorized stalls on the streets. They had set up book stalls selling works on Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin during Durga Puja, obstructing traffic,” he explained. Majumder also criticized the party, stating, “People who are not visible throughout the year are suddenly trying to sell books on Marx and Lenin during Puja. This is not a good practice.”
The incident has ignited a debate in Tripura over civic regulations, freedom of political expression, and the right to promote literature during public festivals in the city. The CPI(M) has vowed to continue its efforts to promote progressive ideas and literature despite the obstacles faced.
