anchi: CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat on Tuesday described as ‘tyranny’ the abrupt cancellation of the release of a book on atrocities against women written by eminent feminist Jasodhara Bagchi in the Kolkata Book Fair. “Nari Nirjantan Pratirodh Mancha” (Forum against the Oppression of Women) had planned the release of the Bengali book “Parajayee Nari” on Monday but the Book Fair authorities cancelled it claiming that it has political connotations. It’s undemocratic…. The unfortunate incident clearly shows that the Mamata Banerjee regime in West Bengal is tyrant. It is condemnable to gag intellectuals,” Brinda told reporters here. It was the first time in the history of West Bengal that such ‘censorship’ had taken place, she claimed.
She, however, did not equate the incident with the similar situations faced by writers Taslima Nasreen and Salman Rushdie several times. “I will not compare it (with other incidents),” she added. Referring to the recent rape incidents in West Bengal, she said, “There is a sense of insecurity among the women in the state. Given a free and fair elections, the people would vote out the Trinamool Congress.” (PTI)