CPI condemns destruction of Rahul Sankrityayan statue in West Bengal

The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Saturday strongly condemned the destruction of a statue of Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan at Raniganj in West Bengal, describing the incident as an attack on India’s progressive and democratic heritage.

In a statement issued on Saturday, CPI General Secretary D. Raja termed the vandalism a “reprehensible act of political and ideological vandalism” targeting one of India’s leading scholars, freedom fighters, Marxist thinkers and public intellectuals.

The party noted that Rahul Sankrityayan was not only a renowned literary figure but also a prominent leader of the CPI. It highlighted that he had served as the National President of the All India Kisan Sabha in 1940 and had dedicated his life to the struggles of peasants, workers and other marginalized sections of society.

The CPI alleged that the incident reflected a broader pattern of attacks on the country’s progressive traditions. In its statement, the party blamed the political climate under the BJP-led Government for creating an atmosphere in which such incidents occur, alleging that there are attempts to undermine India’s rationalist, secular and Left traditions and replace them with a communal narrative.

Calling the destruction of the statue part of this larger ideological campaign, the CPI demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and sought exemplary punishment for the perpetrators. It also called for the statue to be restored without delay.

The party further appealed to democratic, secular and progressive organisations, as well as writers, artists, intellectuals and citizens, to unite in opposing what it described as efforts to erase the legacy of leaders who worked for freedom, scientific temper, social justice and equality.

Authorities in West Bengal had not issued an official statement on the incident at the time of publication.