BJP Moves HC Against Jan 22 'Harmony Rally' by Didi; TMC Hits Back

Kolkata: A day after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced to hold ‘Harmony Rally’ with the representatives of all communities in the city and similar ones by her party in the districts during the Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya on January 22, BJP has moved the Calcutta High Court against her plan.

On Wednesday leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari filed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the HC to defer the Trinamul Congress supremo's rally which he apprehended would deteriorate law and order. Otherwise, he prayed, central paramilitary forces must be deployed in the state on that day.

The PIL is likely to be heard on Thursday. The Nandigram BJP MLA claimed, “It is very alarming that the CM is trying to disturb the communal harmony as the minority vote bank is alienating her. She is making a provocation in the name of Harmony Rally in the districts so that human lives and properties will be at risk.”

He added, “I urge governor CV Ananda Bose to ask the Centre immediately to deploy central forces in sensitive areas of the state.” Slamming him, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh alleged, “Those, who do not want communal harmony and always plot a communal divide, object to any ‘Harmony Rally’ and move court against it.”