“cultural fascism” in West Bengal

BJP MP Hema Malini has written to the Speaker alleging “cultural fascism” in West Bengal and how it is a “security risk” and also has “negative” impact on livelihoods.

She says, “West Bengal is the land that gave birth to luminaries like Rabindranath Tagore and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay; West Bengal used to be the cultural capital…

Today, there is nothing of that sort there; people are struggling to protect & preserve their art. For the past 8–9 years, it has become extremely difficult for me to go to Kolkata for our programs; the straightforward reason for this is that they refuse to provide security.

Why will they not give security? Naturally, the organisers used to get scared and would not arrange our programs. On 15th March, when I was supposed to perform there, they tried not to give us the theatre for my performance.

The main reason is that I belong to the BJP. They are scared, which is why they are talking like this. As an artist, I can say they have been very mean to all artists. Not just me. But many other artists were not allowed to come. Art & culture are the heart of our country. All this happening is very sad.”