Siliguri, 23rd October: The Left Front has called for a protest march in Siliguri on October 24 under the slogan “Read books, save books, and protect Bengal’s heritage,” following allegations that Left-affiliated book stalls were attacked during the Durga Puja celebrations in Siliguri and other parts of West Bengal.
According to the Left, the incidents were linked to the sale of books and the distribution of Sharadiya magazines at the stalls.
The party highlighted a significant rise in book sales at Left-affiliated stalls in Siliguri. While books worth around Rs 1 lakh were sold last year, sales reportedly reached nearly Rs 3 lakh this year. The Left also claimed that total sales at its book stalls across West Bengal had exceeded Rs 1 crore this year.
The Left said promoting the habit of reading and preserving Bengal’s literary and cultural heritage remained essential. The proposed march aims to protest the alleged attacks on book stalls and raise public awareness about the importance of books, reading and cultural preservation.
The protest march will begin at Baghajatin Park and proceed towards TRB More in Siliguri.
