Calcutta Book Fair from January 25 to February 7 at Milan Mela grounds

This year the Calcutta Book Fair will be held from January 25 to February 7 at Milan Mela grounds opposite Science City, off the Bypass. The state government wants the organizers to keep the event "apolitical" and promote only "Bengal's culture and creativity". This has been conveyed by Chief minister Mamata Banerjee in a meeting in Nabanna held with officials of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild who are the fair organizers.
This has been reported in telegraphindia,.com dated 5 January 2016.

The guild officials have been requested not to allow any political activity on the fairground. It is the Calcutta Book Fair, which is an international event, and it should highlight Bengal's culture, creativity and educational values through books. Political debates or discussions could pollute such a grand annual event.
When queried as to whether the government had asked guild officials not to allot stalls to party mouthpieces such as the CPM's Ganashakti or Trinamul's Jago Bangla, the minister indicated that the government could not dictate terms to the organizers. It is up to them to ensure that the event is kept away from politics.
An official of the guild has said that stalls would be allotted to Ganashakti, Yubashakti (DYFI mouthpiece) and Jago Bangla but, rallies and political activities would not be allowed.
A four-acre land had been identified as the parking area at the Milan Mela grounds.

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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