BJP President Amit Shah during an election rally in Jharkhand (PTI photo)
Uncertainty continues over the venue of BJP President Amit Shah's rally in Kolkata on Sunday. The BJP wanted to hold the rally in front of Victoria House at Dharmatala where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee holds the Trinamool's annual Martyr's Day rally on July 21. But on Friday, the police refused permission, sending the BJP to the court for the second time on the issue.
Today, the Calcutta High Court heard the BJP's writ petition in two sessions, in the morning and in the afternoon, and then ordered that, by 5 pm today, the BJP should apply to the Fire Brigade for permission in the required format and to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation submitting all details that are sought. The Court said the two bodies should give their decision on the 27th. After that, the police would do what was mandated by law.
However, BJP state chief Rahul Sinha has issued an ultimatum.
"Police is not the only dispenser of law in this state. There are the courts. The meeting will happen there (at Victoria House). If the police and other organisations create unnecessary trouble at the last minute, I am announcing today that the BJP's lakhs of supporters will reach the location on Sunday. If there are problems, the police will have to face the consequences."
The BJP's confrontational stand does not bode well for the scheduled rally on Sunday.