CPIM alleges BJP workers attacked party’s book stall at Kamalpur

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Former Surma MLA and CPIM leader Anjan Das on Monday alleged that BJP workers attacked a CPIM book stall near the bus terminal in Kamalpur in Tripura’s Dhalai district. The attack led to extensive damage to the stall and a young party leader Prakash Das was injured. 

Das made the allegations while briefing reporters during a protest against the attack on the CPIM’s Kamalpur party office. CCTV footage of the incident was also circulated on social media platforms.

Das said the book stall had been set up during the Durga Puja festivities to promote reading, scientific thinking and awareness against superstition. The stall had been operational for two days and attracted visitors from different sections of society, he said.

The stall offered books on Swami Vivekananda, Bhagat Singh, Khudiram Bose, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Sukanta Bhattacharya, besides works by philosophers, scientists and other thinkers, Das said.

He said the party had been organising book stalls during the festival to encourage people to spend a portion of their festive shopping budget on books. Das added that books remained an important tool for learning and social progress even in the age of the internet.

Alleging that the attack was politically motivated, Das claimed that BJP leaders wanted to prevent the spread of awareness and keep people confined to superstition. He further alleged that some BJP leaders were present near the bus terminal when the stall was vandalised and were seen observing the whole act of violence.

Das accused the BJP leadership of using party workers to target the CPIM and said such attacks would not deter the Left party from continuing its political activities.

He also alleged that the ruling party was facing internal factionalism over financial interests and that its alleged use of violence reflected its disconnect with the public. These claims could not be independently verified.

Referring to the political and economic situation in Tripura, Das said ordinary people were facing financial difficulties and alleged that the benefits of economic activity were increasingly concentrated among political leaders and public representatives.

He claimed that the economic distress had affected people's ability to participate in the festivities as they had in previous years. Das also criticised the BJP government, saying the state had witnessed a decline in democratic practices since the party came to power.

Calling on progressive, peace-loving and democratic forces to unite, the former MLA urged people to work towards restoring democracy and safeguarding peace and communal harmony in the state.

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