Press Conference BJP Leader Jitendra Tiwari. Photo Bibhash Lodh/BS News Agency.
Sanchita Chatterjee, Kolkata: We express our deep concern over the cancellation of the poetry festival organized by the West Bengal Poetry Academy. On behalf of the Cultural and Literary Forum of Bengal, we are concerned about the recent developments in the cultural world of the state.
In particular, we are surprised and angry at the sudden closure of the poetry festival held under the West Bengal Poetry Academy. We demand that the president of the academy explain the real reason for the closure of this festival through a public press conference.
We also demand-
1. The state government should conduct a thorough investigation into the financial irregularities related to the festival.
2. Justice must be ensured for any poet or reciter so that they do not fall victim to neglect.
3. The culture of providing opportunities based on 'intimacy' or 'familiar faces' in the field of art and culture must be stopped.
4. Through proper evaluation of artists, opportunities should be given to them based on their qualifications and achievements.
5. Despite the Bengali language being granted the status of a classical language, why has no writer from Bengali received the Sahitya Akademi Award this year? The people of West Bengal must be informed about this issue in a completely correct manner.
We will begin discussing these issues in the broader cultural community in the coming days and, if necessary, will not hesitate to resort to protest programs.
We are committed to working together to maintain cultural integrity and transparency.