The West Bengal government on Saturday denied permission to Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) to hold the Rath Yatra.
The letter addressed to the Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh reads, “The areas proposed to be covered by the Yatra are, because of publicity and propaganda gradually turning into communally sensitive pockets. Intelligence reports indicate that public perception is that the religious overtones of the Yatra will be turned into a propaganda.”
The state in its letter has blamed that other right-wing organisations such as the RSS, VHP and the Bajrang Dal may join the Yatra and disrupt peace and lead to communal tension in the areas where the Yatra will pass through.
The letter further reads, “Intelligence reports further indicate that in several districts, organisations with overtly communal agenda like the RSS, Bajrang Dal and the VHP would actively join the Yatra. This is grave apprehension of ‘breach of peace’ and communal violence during and in the aftermath of the Yatra.”
Furthermore, the state has said is not in a position to provide police personnel because of the festivals in the state around the same time.
The Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh has said that they will once again knock the doors of the court on Monday and seek its intervention.
“The ruling TMC is not allowing any opposition party to function in the state. There is no democracy in the state. We will discuss this situation with our lawyers tomorrow i.e. Sunday and move court on Monday,” said Ghosh.
However, as far as the public meetings that were to be held in the course of the Yatra is concerned, the state has said that the district Superintendents of Police will decide whether permission can be granted or not.
