Hema Malini writes to Speaker; says West Bengal denying permission for cultural events

Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly polls, actor and BJP MP Hema Malini has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla complaining about prevalent “cultural fascism” in the State which she said was negatively impacting livelihoods.

“I have written a letter to the Honourable Speaker, highlighting a cultural fascism in West Bengal and how it is adversely affecting several people from the cultural world,” the Mathura MP said in a post on X.

“It is both a security risk and a negative impact on livelihoods,” she said.

In the letter, Ms. Malini recorded a few of her experiences when she said she and her co-artistes were denied permission to perform at specific locations by the state government who cited political programmes at the said venues.

“What is tragic is that these are not isolated instances. Over the years, there has been a consistent pattern in West Bengal-- permissions for cultural events are either delayed or denied, often at the eleventh hour, creating uncertainty and disruption for artists and organisers,” the letter said.

“If I as a five-time Member of Parliament feel a sense of insecurity and helplessness in such circumstances, one can only imagine the plight of countless other artistes”.

The actor-turned politician added that this environment was both “unfortunate and unacceptable” and urged for cultural spaces to be kept free from political considerations.