BJP to Move Supreme Court Challenging Calcutta HC Order Disallowing Rath Yatra in West Bengal
On Friday, the review bench of Calcutta HC quashed the single-judge bench's order which allowed the BJP to take out the rath yatra.
New Delhi, December 22: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be moving the Supreme Court to challenge the Calcutta High Court's review bench order, denying the party the permission to take out a "rath yatra" in West Bengal. The plea, expected to be filed on Monday, will be submitted before the vacation bench of the apex court.
On Thursday, a single-judge bench of the Calcutta HC overturned the ban on rath yatra imposed by the administration, citing concerns that it could trigger communal violence in Bengal.
Even as jubilant BJP workers and party leaders celebrated the single-judge bench's order, the TMC government swung into action and filed a review plea before the high court. Denied Permit For Rath Yatra, BJP Chief Amit Shah Charges Mamata Banerjee of 'Trampling Democracy' in West Bengal.
On Friday, the review bench of Calcutta HC quashed the single-judge bench's order for now, saying it would require inputs from the superintendent of police from all districts to decide whether the "save democracy yatra" could be allowed in the state.
The Bengal government had earlier cited inputs received from State Intelligence and CID on the communal violence which could be triggered due to the BJP's rath yatra -- scheduled to pass through all 42 parliamentary constituencies of the state.
BJP president Amit Shah had launched a tirade against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee last week, after her administration showed no signs of relent despite the BJP assuring to take out the processions "peacefully".
Calling the concerns expressed by the state government as "bogus", Shah claimed that communal violence in Bengal is triggered due to "minority appeasement". The BJP, "on the other hand", he added, "strives for justice when the majoritarian community is being discriminated against".
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 22, 2018 06:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).