Hindu Jagaran Manch’s Durga Puja Posters Urging Purchases Spark Controversy in Siliguri
Colorful posters urging shoppers to buy only from Hindu-owned stores appeared in Siliguri before Durga Puja, prompting political backlash.
In the run-up to Durga Puja, one outlet Jagaran Manch installed bright Bengali posters across Siliguri, urging citizens to buy goods, meat and even biryani only from Hindu-owned businesses. The move provoked criticism from locals, including Santosh Roy, who could not imagine such messages appearing in West Bengal. Former CPI(M) minister and former Siliguri mayor Asok Bhattacharya labeled the posters a crime in a secular democracy and called for their removal and the arrest of those responsible.
Abhishek Das, a Manch activist, clarified that the campaign is an appeal intended to boost the local economy rather than a compulsory directive. Union minister of state for education Sukanta Majumdar stated that the Manch operates independently and the government has no role in the initiative. The controversy revives earlier scrutiny of the Manch, which in 2025 partnered with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in protests outside the Bangladesh visa centre over alleged anti-Hindu atrocities.
