‘Rath Yatras’ halted in West Bengal; massive setback for BJP

In a massive setback for BJP, the Calcutta High Court on Friday dismissed the single bench order that allowed saffron party’s ‘Rath Yatras’ in West Bengal.

Dismissing the order, the division bench comprising Chief Justice Debasish Kargupta and Justice Shampa Sarkar sent the case back to the single bench to consider intelligence inputs by state agencies.

The two judges’ bench order came after hearing an appeal moved by the CM Mamata Banerjee-led state government, challenging the Thursday order of the single bench.

A single bench presided by Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty on Thursday allowed the BJP’s ‘Rath Yatras’ programme, setting aside the denial of permission for the rallies by a panel of three senior most officers of the state government.

Notably, the BJP, which sits in opposition in West Bengal, had firstly filed a petition challenging the state government’s decision to deny permission for the Amit Shah’s ‘Rath Yatras’. The matter has become a tussle between the Mamata Banerjee government and the saffron party.

However, the issue has taken a central stage in BJP’s attack against the government with the saffron party continuing its protest against the TMC government for denying the permission of holding ‘Yatras’ in the state.

Also Read: Calcutta High Court allows ‘Rath Yatras’ of BJP in West Bengal