‘Defend Freedom of Expression, Resist Fundamentalism, both Religious and Political’ - Socialist Party (India)

New Delhi- Socialist Party (India) has strongly condemned the growing tendency of state institutions to bow down before the pressure of communal and fundamentalist forces, be they from the majority or minority community.

In a press statement, party's National Spokesperson, Basant Hetamsaria said, " The recent decision of the West Bengal Urdu Academy to cancel its
four-day literary and cultural programme under pressure from certain
fundamentalist Muslim organisations—merely because renowned poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar was invited—is a direct attack on freedom of
thought, artistic expression, and democratic values. It is shameful
that the voice of one of the country’s most respected literary figures
should be silenced in the name of narrow sectarianism.

Equally disturbing is the protest by certain Hindu organisations in
Karnataka against the invitation extended by the state government to
this year’s Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq for the Dussera
festivities. These protests are nothing but a reflection of the same
fundamentalist mindset, which seeks to divide society and police
cultural spaces along religious lines."

The statement further read, " We hold that: Art, literature, and culture belong to the people—they are not the private property of religious establishments or communal groups.
Freedom of speech and expression is a democratic right enshrined in
the Constitution, and no community—majority or minority—has the
authority to curtail it. The role of state institutions must be to protect pluralism, encourage debate, and resist communal pressures, not to surrender before them.

We remind both the governments of West Bengal and Karnataka that
India’s cultural heritage has been built on diversity, dissent, and
dialogue. Suppressing writers, poets, and thinkers in the name of
religion or identity is a dangerous path that will only strengthen
authoritarian and reactionary tendencies.

We call upon all progressive, democratic, and secular forces—writers,
artists, students, trade unions, and civil society organisations—to
unite against this two-pronged assault on free expression and cultural
freedom. The fight against fundamentalism must be waged in every
form—whether it emerges in the garb of minority conservatism or
majority communalism.

India needs fearless voices like Javed Akhtar and Banu Mushtaq, who
represent the courage to speak, write, and challenge regressive
traditions. The silencing of such voices is nothing but the silencing
of democracy itself.

In solidarity with the artists, writers, and cultural activists of
India, we reaffirm our commitment to uphold secularism, socialism, and
democracy against all forces of reaction and bigotry."