BJP's rath-yatra in Bengal gets green signal from Calcutta HC
In a major setback to Trinamool Congress, which governs West Bengal, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday allowed Bharatiya Janata Party to take out a rath yatra in the state. The court said the saffron party will have to inform authorities 24 hours before entering a district and will be responsible for any loss/damage. The state was ordered to deploy enough forces.
BJP is all prepared for the rally
The yatra, being touted by the saffron party as 'Save Democracy' rally, could be held soon. Jay Prakash Majumdar, the Vice-President of the party, said, "We have already prepared three dates for 'ganatantra bachao yatra from Cooch Behar on December 22, from Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas district on December 24 and from Tarapith temple in Birbhum district on December 26."
TMC claimed rally will spark communal tension, HC didn't concur
The TMC had claimed the yatra could spark communal tensions in the state, but the HC didn't agree. Appearing on behalf of the Mamata Banerjee government, State Advocate General Kishore Dutta said the posters of the program hinted the rally would be communal in nature. But Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty said security concerns can't be raised on basis of just posters.
What the court said
Further, Justice Chakraborty said that if a rally is denied permission on basis of intelligence reports, then no rallies should be allowed in the state as every political program invites such reports. BJP lawyer Anand Grover told court SPs of few districts claimed the rally's route touches sensitive areas, and Justice Chakraborty said it can be stopped or diverted from those areas.
Earlier, Amit Shah said nobody can stop us
BJP President Amit Shah, who will lead the yatra, had earlier slammed Banerjee and said she was terrified as his party was making inroads in the state. He accused her of throttling democracy and claimed there was a reign of terror in Bengal. About the yatra he said, "We will definitely carry out all 'yatra,'nobody can stop us."
