Setback for BJP as Calcutta High Court denies permission to party to hold rath yatra in West Bengal

In a major setback for the BJP, the Calcutta High Court has denied it permission to hold the rath yatra in West Bengal. 

The BJP had planned to take out a 42-day rath yatra in December. Amit Shah was supposed to flag off the rally. 

The SPs and DMs will submit a report on the law and order situation of the relevant places to the court on December 21. On January 9, the court will hear the matter. Till then the court has not allowed any rally in any constituency in the state.

Controversy had erupted in November when the BJP had claimed that the state was not providing it with permission to hold the yatra. Following which the party decided to approach the court.

The rally, also called the 'Save Democracy Rally'  is of significance to the party in power. Amit Shah will flag-off the rally and PM Narendra Modi was expected to deliver a speech in Kolkata.

This is not the first time that the BJP had claimed it faced issues when trying to hold a rally in TMC chief's state. In August 2018, the controversy about permission for BJP's rally in West Bengal had erupted, with the party claiming it was denied the permission and the Kolkata police saying it never received an application.

Earlier in the day, Mamata Banerjee had launched attack on the party saying that the rallies by the BJP were Ravan Yatra

"The West Bengal chief minister has said that the BJP is scaring people into submission by offering crores of rupees, and taking out 'Ravan Yatras' all over the country. They are asking people about their name, caste, gotra, and religion. Seems like someone has given them this responsibility,"she said.

READ: A Day Before BJP's Planned West Bengal 'Rath Yatra', Mamata Banerjee Launches 'Ravan Yatra' Attack

A few days earlier, Banerjee had said that BJP does not worship Lord Ram but worships Ravan. She said that the party is dividing people in the name of religion. She further said that the party sells religion for votes. She made the statements while addressing a public meeting in Jamboni in Jhargram in West Bengal.