Calcutta High Court Approves Hanuman Jayanti Rally for Suvendu Adhikari
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Synopsis
Kolkata is gearing up for a Hanuman Jayanti rally, as the Calcutta High Court has granted conditional approval to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. The approval follows a petition after Kolkata Police denied permission for the event, which holds significant political and cultural importance amid ongoing tensions over religious processions in West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
- Calcutta High Court allowed the Hanuman Jayanti rally.
- Restrictions include noise regulations and a cap of 250 attendees.
- Event scheduled from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in North Kolkata.
- BJP claims it as a victory for religious freedom.
- Legal intervention was necessary for past Hindu processions.
New Delhi, April 12 (NationPress) Kolkata is preparing for a Hanuman Jayanti rally this Saturday after the Calcutta High Court granted conditional approval to BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari.
This decision followed a petition submitted by Adhikari after the Kolkata Police initially denied permission for the procession.
A single-judge Bench led by Justice Tirthankar Ghosh has allowed the rally to be organized by the Hanuman Janmotsav Committee but imposed several restrictions.
The procession is scheduled to commence from the Hanuman Temple at College Street and will end at the Hari Ghosh Street Hanuman Temple in North Kolkata. The court has authorized the event to take place between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Among the stipulations set by the High Court are the strict following of noise regulations and public safety guidelines. The use of DJ systems or any loud sound equipment is explicitly banned, and participants cannot bring metal weapons or any items that may provoke unrest.
The court has also limited the number of participants to a maximum of 250.
This rally carries significant political and cultural weight, occurring amidst ongoing disputes over religious processions in the state.
BJP leaders have frequently accused the West Bengal administration of selectively denying permissions for Hindu religious activities.
Citing the current rally and previous events, party officials mentioned that two Ram Navami processions in Howrah on April 6 were also permitted only after legal intervention from the High Court.
State BJP leaders have embraced the court's ruling as a win for religious freedom. They have reiterated their belief that citizens should not need to seek court intervention to practice their faith without disturbance.
