Calcutta HC grants BJP permission for protest in Baruipur against attack on Suvendu Adhikari

The Calcutta High Court has granted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) permission to hold a protest outside the Baruipur Police Superintendent's office on March 27. The court allowed the protest from 2 PM to 5 PM, under specific conditions. The BJP had approached the court after the West Bengal Police denied permission for the protest, which was organized in response to an alleged attack on Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, during a protest march on March 20. The march took place in the constituency of West Bengal Legislative Assembly Speaker, Biman Banerjee, and BJP leaders claim that Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers attacked Adhikari's vehicle, forcing him to return without holding the rally.

BJP's legal team argued that the state had sufficient police resources to ensure the protest’s security. They highlighted that 450 police officers were deployed during a previous protest, which indicated the state’s capability to handle such events. BJP’s counsel also asserted that the attack on Adhikari occurred due to police inaction during the earlier rally. Following these arguments, the High Court allowed the protest, while imposing several restrictions to maintain order.

The court’s order includes limiting the number of participants to 1,000 and restricting the use of loudspeakers near hospitals. Additionally, only 25 microphones will be allowed throughout the event. The protest will be confined to a three-hour window, from 2 PM to 5 PM, to minimize disruptions in the area. These conditions aim to balance the right to protest with the need for public safety and order.