KMC refuses permission to Amit Shah's meeting, BJP to move HC

KOLKATA: BJP has decided to approach the Calcutta High Court on Friday after the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and West Bengal fire service department refused it permission to hold a rally on Sunday near Victoria House, where party national chief Amit Shah was expected to speak. With both KMC and fire department declining approvals, it will be impossible for the party to get permission from the city police. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses her Trinamool Congress workers at the same place every year on July 21, when the party organises its martyr’s day rally.

BJP state president Rahul Sinha said he has informed Shah about Thursday’s development. “He assured me that he will come to Kolkata on Sunday and address our rally. We are determined to hold the meeting near Victoria House,” Sinha said. “All the government agencies are following instructions of Mamata Banerjee, who wants to foil our meeting.”

Sinha urged KMC to design and construct the stage for the rally since the civic body pointed out several technical faults in the site plan the party had submitted for their rally.

Mayor Sovon Chatterjee told reporters that the KMC didn’t give permission because the application filed by the BJP did not fulfil all requirements which were needed for holding such a rally.