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In a big setback to the ruling Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Calcutta High Court has give green signal to BJP’s Save Democracy Rath Yatra. The HC in its order directed the administration to ensure that there is no breach of law and order.
Both the BJP and the TMC have been engaged in war of words in recent times on host of issues and this yatra is hence likely to further intensify the bitter battle .
The government had earlier refused permission to the proposed yatra as it might lead to communal tension in areas from where it passes through. BJP president Amit Shah will flag – off the yatra . Shah had earlier dared the Mamata government to stop the BJP rallies in the state.
The BJP is scheduled to hold three ‘rath yatras’ that will start from different parts and traverse all the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in an attempt to reach out to the people .
The division bench had on December 7 directed the West Bengal chief secretary, the home secretary and the director general of police to hold a meeting with three representatives of the BJP by December 12, and take a decision on the ‘yatra’ by December 14.
The court slammed the reasoning of the Bengal government and said it would be “appropriate to permit the petitioner to hold the rally… to organise the yatras”. “The petitioner will inform the police authorities, superintendent of district where the yatra shall enter, at least 12 hours before entering the concerned district. The commissioner will ensure conducting yatra in peaceful manner,” the plea read.
