Abhishek Banerjee Faces Setback as Kunal Ghosh’s Call for Artist Boycott Gains Ground

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, January 11, 2025, Kolkata : The ongoing RG Kar movement has become a flashpoint for political tensions in West Bengal, with the latest developments showing a shift in favor of Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh. Despite Abhishek Banerjee’s public statement advocating for the right of artists to protest and asserting that no artist’s program should be canceled, the reality seems to be quite different as artists are now facing growing pressure.

On Thursday, the RG Kar movement marked its five-month milestone. Artist Devleena, who has been actively involved in the movement and attended every program in Shyambazar, spoke out about the widespread cancellations of her performances. She shared that despite being invited to various events this winter, all of her programs had been abruptly canceled. Devleena, known for her prominent participation in protests and her visible "We Want Justice" badge, claimed that her participation in movements post-RG Kar case has led to this fallout.

In an emotional statement, Devleena expressed her concerns about the stifling of artistic freedom in the state, calling the situation dangerous for democracy. “They are trying to kill us. I am also on that list. The artistic community of West Bengal is being strangled,” she said. Devleena further claimed to have evidence showing how organizers have been pressured into canceling her performances. She shared messages from event organizers apologizing for their inability to host her due to political reasons, saying, “Didi, I cannot bring you due to political reasons. Please forgive me.”

The issue has sparked significant discussion within the civic community, with many questioning the sincerity of Abhishek Banerjee’s previous assurances that no artist would face discrimination for their political views. The question now arises: did Abhishek Banerjee's words hold any weight, or has Kunal Ghosh’s call for a boycott of artists critical of the government prevailed? This ongoing saga has raised alarm over the shrinking space for artistic expression and the increasing politicization of cultural events in West Bengal.