Pressure from TMC? Kolkata Literature Festival cancels Tuhin A Sinha’s scheduled occasion

On February 7, Author Tuhin A Sinha stated on the social media platform Twitter that his scheduled participation at Kolkata Literature Festival for February 10 has been cancelled on the final minute allegedly as a consequence of strain from All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).

In a tweet, he stated, “My presence at @kolkataboimela on 10 Feb has been suddenly cancelled under pressure from @AITCofficial govt. This, was after the organisers, had posted about the event yesterday on social media platforms. This gross intolerance n Taliban mindset towards a political adversary is shameful.” Sinha is the nationwide spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

My presence at @kolkataboimela on 10Feb has been out of the blue cancelled beneath strain from @AITCofficial govt. This,after the organisers had posted in regards to the occasion y’day on social media platforms. This gross intolerance n Taliban mindset 2wards a political adversary is shameful. pic.twitter.com/zIoE14FRWi

— Tuhin A. Sinha तुहिन सिन्हा (@tuhins) February 7, 2023

As per the writer, his participation was scheduled for February 10, 2023, and it was confirmed through electronic mail on January 10, 2023. The Kolkata Literature Festival is scheduled for February 9 to February 11 as a part of the Kolkata Book Fair or Boi Mela. His tickets had been additionally booked by the organisers that he acquired through electronic mail on February 4.

Speaking to OpIndia, Tuhin stated he was knowledgeable in regards to the cancellation through cellphone name. He additional stated, “I have had to cancel another event because of the sudden change.” He was scheduled to talk on the School of Media and Communication, Kolkata, on February 10.

The poster of the occasion was printed on the official web page of the Festival. Source: Facebook

Expressing his dismay over the sudden cancellation, Tuhin A Sinha stated, “This was not a political event. This was a purely literary event and that too to promote a specific work of mine which is the ‘Great Tribal Warriors of Bharat’. The book is of great relevance to our Tribal community and by abandoning this event, Mamata Banerjee has shown her anti-Tribal mindset. Because, these were the same people who were opposed to Draupadi Murmu ji, the first Tribal lady to become the President and now once again it has exposed the anti-Tribal mindset of the Mamata Banerjee government.” “I will now go to Kolkata for a public event only after TMC is packed off from power,” he added.

Netizens react to the cancellation

Following the tweet by Sinha, a number of netizens reacted to the cancellation. Editor-in-chief of Jan Ki Baat Pradeep Bhandari stated, “Intolerance & Cancel culture at the display.  Had this happened in any Saffron Ruled state, the entire global community would have shouted Fascism.”

Intolerance & Cancel tradition at show. Had this occurred in any Saffron Ruled state, all the international group would have shouted Fascism. https://t.co/4BBGRl6J4g

— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) February 7, 2023

Author Ratan Sharda stated, “Are we surprised? Afterall #MamataBanerjee & #TMC is known for their love for #FreedomOfExpression”

Are we stunned. Afterall #MamataBanerjee & #TMC is understood for his or her love for #FreedomOfExpression 😊 https://t.co/abfyP07cmd

— Ratan Sharda 🇮🇳 रतन शारदा (@RatanSharda55) February 7, 2023

Author Aabhas Maldahiyar stated, “Where the mind is without fear & the head is held high, Where knowledge is free, Where the world has not been broken up into fragments, By narrow domestic walls… here the clear stream of reason has not lost its way… There lived a Tagore where now lives Mamata Banerjee.”

“Where the mind is without fear & the head is held high⁰Where knowledge is free⁰Where the world has not been broken up into fragments⁰By narrow domestic walls
(…)
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way (..)”
There lived a Tagore the place now lives @MamataOfficial https://t.co/W0ZRdz13ii

— Aabhas Maldahiyar 🇮🇳 (@Aabhas24) February 7, 2023

OpIndia has mailed to the organisers for feedback. We will replace the story accordingly.