Kolkata: Tension flared up near the Jadavpur University campus on Saturday evening as a JCB rolled in, threatening to mow down book stalls set up by CPM for Durga Puja. It was sent by KMC’s solid waste management department which claimed that the police had requisitioned it since the stalls were set up without the latter’s permission.A KMC solid waste department official said that the rule says that permission for such stalls would be given by the department on the condition that police permission is obtained simultaneously. “The police have informed us that their permission was not taken. So, we were asked to mow down the stalls,” said the official, adding that many stalls were set up after obtaining civic permission.Similar stalls could be pulled down at Patuli, Bansdroni and Gobra, according to KMC.Reacting to the development, AISA state president Ritam Maji said: “This is unprecedented in Bengal’s history where student and youth organizations are being forced to face bulldozers simply for selling books. The AISA stall has been a continuous presence at the 8B bus stand for the last 10 years, and we have been diligently paying Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) taxes and following all protocols. Despite securing all necessary permissions and completing all intimations a month in advance, police and KMC officials arrived this evening without any prior notification to shut down our stalls.”Maji added that the authorities are claiming that only the BJP stall has permission to remain. To justify this, they are using a completely distorted interpretation of a recent court observation. “While we have presented our valid documents and tax receipts to the officials present, the administration has failed to provide any written order proving our permissions are faulty or invalid. Shockingly, the authorities even attempted to drive a bulldozer into the Jadavpur book stalls this evening, retreating for now only because of the strong resistance put up by those present.”The controversy surrounding CPM book stalls during Durga Puja — including a focal point of interest around areas like Jadavpur — stems from a mix of political friction, semantic objections, and legal battles across Bengal.For decades, Left parties have traditionally set up book stalls near major pandals during the festive season to sell Marxist literature, popular Bengali fiction, and science books. However, these stalls traditionally display banners with terms like ‘Sharodotsav’ (Autumn Festival) rather than explicitly using “Durga Puja”.This practice drew sharp criticism from political opponents. Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and other leaders publicly urged puja committees to deny space to CPM stalls if they avoided using the term ‘Durga Puja’, arguing that political bodies should not selectively rebrand or politicise traditional religious festivals.
