The West Bengal government on Saturday denied permission to the BJP for its proposed Statewide rath yatra.
“It an attempt by the administration deny any political any space to the BJP in the State,” Pratap Banerjee senior State BJP leader told The Hindu . Mr Banerjee said the State administration has asked the BJP to submit fresh applications for holding public rallies to concerned local authorities.
The BJP leadership said that decision by the State government is "politically motivated”.
“It is not a rath yatra but a yatra for political purposes in the State and we are calling it Gantantra Bachao Yatra ( Save democracy yatra),” Mr Banerjee said. He accused the administration of dubbing the yatra as “rath yatra” when the BJP leadership, nowhere in their communication to the State called the political programme a ‘rath yatra’.
The State BJP leadership said they would consult the party’s central leadership on the matter and the yatra will be held in the State.
“The large convoy of yatra will create a chaotic situation,” the communication by the State government said. The State government also pointed out that it will require a large number of police forces for “religious festival” scheduled in next few days. The State government also added said that VHP and Bajrang Dal with “ overtly communal agenda” will join the yatra.
BJP president Amit Shah was scheduled to launch the yatra in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district on December 7 but the State government denied permission to the yatra. Three yatras were supposed to be held through the State touching all 42 Parliament constituencies. The BJP leadership approached the High Court, which directed the State government and BJP leadership to discuss the matter on December 12, and the State government was to make its stand clear to the BJP by December 15.
