Hindu group's shop boycott posters spark controversy in West Bengal

The Hindu Jagaran Manch distributed posters across Siliguri in the days leading up to the five-day Durga Puja festival, appealing to shoppers to support Hindu-owned businesses. The colourful Bengali-language notices were placed in prominent locations throughout the city as part of what the group characterized as a community initiative.

The campaign has triggered significant political backlash, with opposition parties and civil society groups condemning the move as divisive and potentially discriminatory. Critics argue that such calls undermine communal harmony and run counter to constitutional principles of equal opportunity and non-discrimination in commercial matters.

Local authorities have acknowledged the posters and the controversy surrounding them. The incident reflects ongoing tensions in several parts of India regarding religious-based consumer campaigns and their role in shaping community relations during festival periods.

The controversy comes at a sensitive time, as Durga Puja preparations typically draw people from diverse communities in West Bengal. Business associations and secular organizations in Siliguri have called for unity and inclusive commercial practices, emphasizing that economic transactions should remain independent of religious identity.

The matter has drawn attention from various political quarters, with calls for investigation into whether such targeted appeals violate local regulations or hate speech provisions.