Actor-politician Hema Malini has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, expressing concern over what she termed “cultural fascism” in West Bengal. She warned that the situation poses a “security risk” and is adversely affecting livelihoods.
The veteran actress and Lok Sabha MP from Mathura said it is “deeply distressing” to witness what she described as a growing atmosphere of cultural fascism in the state. She added that the situation is particularly ironic, given that West Bengal has historically been a hub of art, literature, and rich cultural expression.
“I have written a letter to the Honourable Speaker, highlighting a cultural fascism in West Bengal and how it is adversely affecting several people from the cultural world,” the Mathura MP said in a post on X.
I have written a letter to the Honourable Speaker, highlighting a cultural fascism in West Bengal and how it is adversely affecting several people from the cultural world. It is both a security risk and is having a negative impact on livelihoods.
— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) April 1, 2026
Highlighting a specific instance, BJP leader Hema Malini recalled how a dance drama at Kolkata’s prestigious Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium was “abruptly cancelled” at the last minute. She alleged that authorities gave “shifting and inconsistent reasons” for scrapping the event.
“What is most tragic is that these are not isolated incidents,” she said, claiming there has been a recurring pattern in West Bengal where permissions for cultural events are delayed or denied at the eleventh hour, causing uncertainty and disruption for artists and organisers.
The Lok Sabha MP Hema Malini also raised concerns about the safety and security of artists in West Bengal. She said that over the past eight to nine years, performing in the state has increasingly become a source of apprehension, with insufficient assurances of safety and protection.
Last year, the makers of The Bengal Files alleged that the film faced an unofficial ban in the state ahead of its scheduled release. BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty also criticised the government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, claiming it blocked the release of The Bengal Files while promoting Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, as propaganda.
