Kolkata Book Fair kicks off, CM Mamata Banerjee warns against protest outside Russian stall
India Today
In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, police personnel have been deployed around Russian stall at Kolkata Book Fair to discourage any form of protest.
The 45th Kolkata International Book Fair kicked off on Monday, with Russia among the 20 countries that are participating in this year’s book fair. However, in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, police personnel have been deployed around the stall set up by Russia to discourage protestors.
Inaugurating the book fair on February 28, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the public to avoid protesting at the venue. She said, “West Bengal has always been in favour of peace. Protest against war, but do not protest on the book fair ground. The ground should be kept away from such protests".
But with the tension escalating in Ukraine, a heavy police deployment was seen around the Russian stall to discourage protestors back home.
45th Kolkata International book fair has been started. Russia is also among the 20 countries that are participating in this year’s edition of the book fair.#ReporterDiary(@RittickMondal) pic.twitter.com/N27PIwzG1m
Anna Morieva, a Russian resident, came here a week back, before the tension erupted between Russian and Ukraine. She is getting updates from her home about the ongoing war, but feels safe in India as book lovers of Kolkata give her a warm welcome.
