Kolkata: Police Stop VHP From Handing Out Hanuman Chalisa; Later Allow After They Ask Why Bible, Quran Are Being Distributed

On the last day of the 44th International Kolkata Book Fair on Sunday (9 February), the policemen stopped VHP workers from distributing the 'Hanuman Chalisa' among visitors and closed their stall, reports News18.

Notably, several left-leaning students from Kolkata University were chanting anti-CAA, anti-NRC slogans outside stall number 370 of the VHP at the Kolkata Book Fair and had taken out a rally holding placard at the site which was full to its capacity.

In the evening when one of the stalls of VHP started distributing free ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ to visitors, the same group started protesting against the act and was also reportedly involved in a scuffle with the VHP activists.

Afterwards, the cops asked the stall to stop the distribution of the religious book reasoning that “as it could incite passion among the visitors leading to law and order problem.”

However, the VHP activists questioned the decision of the cops asking why can’t they distribute Hanuman Chalisa when other stalls were distributing Quran and Bible in the book fair.

"There was tension initially. But when we wanted to know why the Hanuman Chalisa cannot be distributed if other organisations can give out the Quran and the Bible, the police relented and we continued with the distribution," VHP member Swarup Chatterjee told PTI as quoted by the report.

Afterwards, the cops relented and allowed them to distribute the books.