Hema Malini, a veteran actress and Lok Sabha MP from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing her alarm over what she calls 'cultural fascism' in West Bengal. In her letter, she emphasized that this situation poses a 'security risk' and negatively affects livelihoods in the state. Malini pointed to the abrupt cancellation of a dance drama at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata as a troubling example, alleging that authorities provided inconsistent reasons for the cancellation. She noted that such incidents are not isolated, as there has been a consistent pattern of delayed or denied permissions for cultural events, causing uncertainty for artists and organizers. Additionally, Malini raised concerns about the safety of artists, stating that performing in West Bengal has become increasingly apprehensive over the past eight to nine years. Other voices, including filmmaker Mithun Chakraborty, have also criticized the West Bengal government for allegedly obstructing cultural expressions, such as the film 'The Bengal Files'.