Kolkata Book Fair Rocked by Protest Over Street Childrens Exclusion

An NGOs demonstration at the International Kolkata Book Fair brought attention to the alleged prevention of social activities involving street children by the police, sparking tension among visitors.

On Monday evening, around 40 members of an NGO staged a demonstration at the venue of the International Kolkata Book Fair, alleging that the police had prevented them from carrying out "social activities" involving street children.

Police Intervention

According to a Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate official, a group of individuals gathered in front of the Little Magazine pavilion at the book fair ground around 7 pm and began shouting slogans against the police and event organizers. This caused tension among the visitors.

In response, the police swiftly took action and whisked away approximately 20 protestors. They were briefly detained at the police control room before being released.

NGO's Claims

The members of Amar Pathshala, the NGO involved in the protest, asserted that they had brought several street children to the fairground on January 28 for a program. However, they alleged that the police unjustifiably denied the children entry.

Expressing their discontent, a spokesperson for the organization questioned, "If the book fair is meant for everyone, why is there such discriminatory treatment towards children?"

Publishers' Perspective

Tridib Chatterjee, the president of Publishers and Booksellers Guild, acknowledged that a demonstration had occurred at one corner of the fair. He emphasized that the book fair serves as a platform for bibliophiles, children, and individuals from all walks of life.

Previous Demonstrations

Chatterjee also mentioned that some youths had recently held demonstrations at the fairground to protest the developments in Gaza and the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. However, the police promptly dispersed these protests.

Preserving the Fair's Essence

Chatterjee expressed his desire to maintain the book fair as a space dedicated to literature and cultural exchange, rather than allowing it to become a venue for political sloganeering or political activities.