West Bengal government denies permission to BJP's rath yatra

The state administration denied permission to the BJP stating the yatra may disrupt communal harmony.

In a letter to West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, the state government said: "The areas proposed to be covered by the Yatra are, because of publicity and propaganda, gradually turning into communally sensitive pockets. Intelligence reports indicate the public perception is that the religious overtones of the Yatra will be turned into communal propaganda.

"Intelligence reports also indicate that in several districts, organisations with overtly communal agenda such as the RSS, Bajrang Dal and VHP would actively join the Yatra. There is grave apprehension of major breach of peace and communal violence during and in the aftermath of the Yatra."

However, the government stated the district authorities will take a call on the BJP's public meetings "on case to case basis as per the provision of Section 30 of Police Act, 1861".

In reply to the denial, the BJP said the yatra will take place as common people would come out and make it successful.

The matter had moved the Calcutta High Court after the state government denied permission of the yatra to the BJP for the first time.

Though the high court had initially denied permission, the division bench overturned the single bench's order.

The single bench had asked the state administration to sit with the BJP leaders and decide on the yatra.

The yatra has led to a major face-off between the BJP and ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

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