BJP denied permission for ‘Rath Yatra’ by Calcutta High Court

December 7: The West Bengal unit of the BJP had scheduled three ‘Rath Yatras’ beginning Friday, which were proposed to travel across all 42 Lok Sabha constituencies of the State. However, the state government denied permission to the ‘Rath Yatras.’ On the face of it, the High Court was approached.

On Thursday, Calcutta High Court refused to give permission to the BJPs ‘Rath Yatras’ scheduled to be flagged off by party president Amit Shah on Friday. Ruling on a BJP petition, the court said the proposed rallies had the potential of creating communal tension in West Bengal. Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty directed the Superintendents of Police of all districts to file a report by December 21 on the issue after holding discussions with the district presidents of the BJP.

After the court denied permission, the BJP leadership approached the Division Bench, which will consider the matter on Friday. BJP president Dilip Ghosh said that while the party would not conduct the ‘Rath Yatras’, a public meeting would be held in Cooch Behar district as scheduled.