Calcutta HC greenlights protest at Rani Rashmoni avenue, warns against vandalism

The Calcutta High Court has granted permission for a protest to be held at Rani Rashmoni Avenue on December 5, organized by the group "Khola Hawa." The protest is set to take place in response to ongoing reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. The demonstration will be led by former BJP MP Swapan Dasgupta, with an estimated 2,500 participants expected to attend. The protest’s focus will be on condemning the alleged persecution of Hindus and raising awareness about the situation in Bangladesh.

While granting the permit for the gathering, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh made it clear that any form of violence, including damage to government property or physical harm to government officials, would not be tolerated. Justice Ghosh emphasized that incidents of vandalism and violence, which have occurred in previous protests to attract attention, are unacceptable. He stated that if any such activities take place during the protest, the court would take steps to regulate similar protests in the future.

The state government has confirmed that it has no objection to the protest, provided all necessary security arrangements and permissions are in place. The police will be tasked with ensuring that law and order are maintained throughout the event. Organizers of the protest, including Swapan Dasgupta, have pledged to follow the legal requirements and conduct the demonstration in a peaceful and lawful manner. The court’s ruling comes amid growing concerns in Kolkata over the situation in Bangladesh, where reports of attacks on religious minorities have raised alarm.