Permission denied for civic reception to Modi at stadium: BJP

KOLKATA:A civic reception for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi planned by BJP at a stadium here during his visit on April 9 has been denied permission by the Mamata Banerjee government, the party today alleged.

The BJP claimed that in mid-March, it was told by authorities of government-run Netaji Indoor Stadium that the venue was available for the event but later on it was told that booking was not open on that date.

"We wanted to give a civic reception to Narendra Modi on April 9 at Netaji Indoor Stadium, but we were told that booking was not available on that date," state BJP spokesman Ritesh Tiwari here said.

State party President Rahul Sinha wrote a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee requesting her to see that the stadium was made available for a civic reception programme for Modi who is a guest.

"But someone from CM's office informed us that the stadium could not be made available on that day since it was booked by a private party long back," Tiwari said adding that now the state BJP would hold a party workers' convention with Modi at Mahajati Sadan here.

The Gujarat Chief Minister is scheduled to address captains of industry in the city on April 9.

The meeting would be jointly organised by MCC Chamber of Commerce, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Bharat Chamber of Commerce.