BJP Claims Curbs To Stop PM's Kolkata Roadshow, Cops Say "Nothing New"

Sharing an order issued by the Kolkata Police on May 22, state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Friday alleged that prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC were imposed in central Kolkata to stop PM Narendra Modi's roadshow in the city.

Quoting Mr Majumdar's post on X, the Kolkata Police said that such prohibitory orders in central Kolkata are issued on a regular basis.

"The chief minister, sensing the will of the masses after 5 phases of election, is now fearful. In a desperate move, she has ordered police to implement Article 144 in Kolkata to stop Modiji's road-show. Let TMC know: No evil tactics can stop the BJP (sic)," the BJP state chief posted on X.

He later told reporters that the Kolkata Police had been "instructed" by the Trinamool Congress government to impose the restrictions in the heart of the city to stop the PM's roadshow on May 28.

"It shows that instead of turning Kolkata into London, the TMC wants to turn the city into another Afghanistan or earlier Kashmir," he claimed.

In the order shared by Mr Majumdar, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal said the prohibitory orders would be in force for 60 days, from May 28 to July 26 as "...information has been received from credible sources that violent demonstrations are likely to take place resulting in large scale disturbances of the public tranquility and breach of the peace in the area falls under Bowbazar Police Station, Hare Street Police Station and Headquarters Traffic Guard which is from K.C. Das Crossing towards Victoria House (C.E.S.C. Head Office) and its vicinity excluding Bentick Street".

A senior officer of the state Home Department said was a "routine order", and such restrictions are imposed in that area on a "regular basis".

Sharing copies of similar orders issued in January and March, the Kolkata Police replied to the BJP leader on X: "Kolkata Police issues 144 Cr PC order in vicinity of Dalhousie and Victoria house on regular basis. This is nothing new and copies of previous orders being attached. So please refrain from spreading misleading information."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)