Fri Jan 17 16:07:43 UTC 2025: ## Kolkata Book Fair Denies Human Rights Group Stall, Sparks Outcry

**Kolkata, January 17, 2025** – The upcoming Kolkata International Book Fair is facing criticism after denying a stall to the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), a prominent West Bengal human rights organization. This marks the first time in the fair’s 48-year history that the APDR has been excluded.

Eminent West Bengal artists, authors, and doctors have penned an open letter to the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the fair’s organizer, protesting the decision. Signatories include Dr. Vinayak Sen, Jaya Mitra, and Bolan Gangopadhyay, among others. The letter highlights the book fair’s tradition of fostering diverse opinions and expresses concern that the APDR’s exclusion undermines freedom of expression.

The Guild cited the APDR’s lack of registration and its perceived status as a “political organization” as reasons for the denial. APDR senior member Ranjit Sur countered that they have never registered on principle and that the decision was likely motivated by fears of protests related to the R.G. Kar rape and murder case.

While the Guild’s general secretary, Sudhangshu Sekhar Dey, denied any specific grudge against the APDR, he stated that no organizations were given stalls this year, including political parties like the Trinamool and CPI(M), unless they had a separate publishing unit.

The APDR’s appeal to the Calcutta High Court was dismissed, the court ruling that it could not intervene in the stall allocation of a private event. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), also denied a stall, has filed a separate case with the court. The Kolkata International Book Fair is scheduled to begin on January 28th.

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