Fresh PIL in Calcutta High Court Against BJP's Rath Yatra in West Bengal, Alleges Threat to Law and Order

Kolkata, December 17: A fresh public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Calcutta High Court, demanding a stay on the rath yatra planned by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in all 42 parliamentary constituencies of West Bengal. The petitioners claim that the yatra poses a threat to law and order, by vitiating the state of communal harmony.

The PIL comes in the backdrop of state government's denial to the permission for yatra sought by the BJP. The latter has already moved the Calcutta High Court, claiming that the right to organise their cadres and discharge their duty as an Opposition is enshrined in the Constitution.

"Mamata ji's government is trampling upon the basic tenets of democracy. She wants an Opposition-free West Bengal." said BJP's state unit chief Dilip Ghosh. On being asked whether the proposed rath yatra poses a threat to law and order, Ghosh replied, "It is the administration's failure if they cannot manage a rally, if they cannot handle a gathering."

On December 7, the Calcutta HC had ordered the BJP to send 3 representatives for talks with the Chief Secretary Malay De, Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya and Director General of Police (DGP) Virendra.

The rounds of meeting failed to yield results, as the administration has reiterated that it has credible intelligence inputs suggesting that the rath yatra would lead to communal riots in parts of the state.

BJP president Amit Shah said the party is hopeful of securing a verdict in its favour from the Calcutta HC. "The rath yatra has only goal - to save democracy in Bengal," said Shah, who is targeting to win 22 Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2019.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 17, 2018 04:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).