Amit Shah's rally at Mamata's 'Shaheed Divas site' gets High Court's nod

The Calcutta High Court has granted permission to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to conduct a rally near Victoria House at Esplanade on November 29, overturning the objections raised by the West Bengal government.

The location holds significance as it is the same venue where the Trinamool Congress organizes its annual 'Shaheed Divas (Martyrs' Day)' rally on July 21.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya upheld the single bench order, dismissing the West Bengal government's petition opposing the rally. The government had initially approached the High Court on November 23 against the single-judge Bench judgment.

The Single-Judge Bench, led by Justice Rajasekhar Mantha, had criticized the Kolkata Police on November 20 for twice denying permission for the BJP rally without providing clear reasons. The High Court, in response to the government's plea, noted that while the advisory suggests applying two to three weeks before the event, the BJP had submitted its application 23 days in advance. Emphasizing that the advisory isn't a rigid rule and authorities have discretion, the Bench granted permission.

The state BJP unit welcomed the High Court's decision, referring to it as "historical".

The rally, organized by the BJP to draw attention to alleged irregularities in jobs provided by MNREGA, is expected to feature prominent party leader Amit Shah.