The proposed demolition of a CPM book stall near Kolkata’s Jadavpur 8B bus stand stalled on Saturday evening after party supporters formed a human chain in front of an excavator brought to remove the temporary structure.
Supporters holding books and party flags shouted “Go back” slogans as a joint team of police officers from Jadavpur police station and Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials arrived at the junction. A central force contingent also accompanied the team, according to a report by Telegraph India.
The stall, inaugurated on October 13 by CPM veteran Biman Bose, is one of four temporary structures near the 8B bus stand selling books. A stall linked to an organisation claiming allegiance to the BJP has been set up at the location for the first time, while the rights group Association for Protection of Democratic Rights and the All India Students’ Association also have book stalls there.
A senior police officer cited by Telegraph India said permission had not been obtained from the Calcutta Police headquarters and that the stalls were affecting traffic at the key junction. The officer also said party officials could not produce an official order or clearance for setting up the CPM stall.
CPM state committee member Sudip Sengupta told police officers and KMC officials that supporters would resist the demolition. “If the government wants to demolish our book stall, it will have to run the excavator over us first,” he said, according to the report.
CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty disputed the police’s account. He said the party had held discussions with the police before setting up the stall and had informed them in writing, as it had done in previous years. Chakraborty also said police officers were present at the inauguration, the party had paid tax to the KMC and CESC had installed an electricity meter.
Chakraborty asked the senior police officer to show the demolition order, but the officer could not produce one, the report said. The officer then requested that the stall be shut for the day while the issue was decided on Sunday. Chakraborty rejected the request and asked supporters to sing the national anthem.
Police remained deployed at the site late into the night as CPM supporters guarded the stall and customers continued to buy books. The immediate dispute centres on whether the stall had the required permissions and whether the temporary structures were obstructing traffic at the junction. A decision on the stall was expected on Sunday.
