Kolkata: The West Bengal government has denied permission to BJP-proposed Rath Yatra to enter the state, fearing breach of peace and communal violence during and in the aftermath of the procession.
In a letter issued by HK Kusumakar, secretary (Coordination), Home and Hill Affairs Department, the government has alleged that the BJP hasn’t provided exact details and venues of the 158 meetings that it has proposed to hold across West Bengal.
Referring to intelligence inputs, the letter further read that in several districts, “organisations with overtly communal propaganda like the RSS, Bajrang Dal and VHP would actively participate in the Rath Yatra”.
“The areas proposed to be covered by the ‘Yatra’ are because of publicity and propaganda, gradually turning into communal sensitive pockets,” the letter read.
On December 7, the Calcutta High Court directed three BJP representatives to meet West Bengal Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and the Director General of Police by December 12. They were asked to prepare a guidelines by December 14 for the proposed ‘Save Democracy Yatra’.
A meeting was subsequently held on December 13. On Saturday, the state government issued a letter to the state BJP saying that they cannot allow them to hold the ‘yatra’ fearing violation of communal harmony.
Earlier, the BJP suffered a major setback after the Calcutta High Court denied permission to hold a ‘rath yatra’ till the next date of hearing on January 9.
Comments
0 comment