Calcutta HC denies permission to BJP's rath yatra

In a major blow to the West Bengal leadership of BJP, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday denied permission for its rath yatra which was scheduled to take place from Cooch Behar district on Friday. The High Court also stated in its order that the rath yatra will not take place till the next hearing of the case on January 9. BJP president Amit Shah was to be present at the rath yatra in Cooch Behar.

During the hearing, the West Bengal government submitted before the High Court that it will not grant permission for BJP’s rath yatra. The hearing took place before the bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty.

However, the BJP state leadership alleged even though it informed the state administration on October 29 the state government was sitting on it and only a day before the rath yatra it stated before the High Court that it will not grant permission for the rath yatra.

“ The West Bengal government is denying our right to hold rath yatra on the pre-text of fictitious police report claiming that the yatra may disrupt communal harmony. We will take up the matter to the Division Bench on Friday,” state BJP vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar said after the High Court’s decision.

Before the hearing state BJP president, Dilip Ghosh had said that even if the state government does not give permission for the rath yatra it will take place at any cost.

Also Read: Mamata running 'dictatorship' in WB, alleges BJP