Political temperature tended to rise even as the Bengal BJP hardened its stance on holding the pre-scheduled Amit Shah rally at the politically conspicuous Victoria House crossing in central Kolkata.
The Kolkata Police had earlier refused to give permission for the November 30 rally citing "traffic and technical reasons" prompting the saffron leadership to move the Calcutta High Court. While the police contended that the BJP had not taken the necessary clearance from the Fire Brigade and the Kolkata Metropolitan Corporation, the court directed the saffron leadership to complete the formalities within Tuesday and ordered the police to make known its decision by November 28.
Earlier, repeated petitions before the police seeking permission had fallen on deaf ears. The BJP was observing November 30 as Utthan Diwas or the day of awakening.
Warning the Mamata Banerjee Government against the "misadventure" of not allowing the permission, State BJP president Rahul Sinha said, "A close interpretation of the court order would reveal that it has gone in our favour and the BJP will hold the rally come what may. If the police stop us, the Government will be held responsible for the consequences that might follow."
While Trinamool Congress organised its yearly Martyr Day Rally on July 21 at Victoria House Crossing which can accommodate more than 3 lakh people, the police deter all other parties to do the same.
"This is a murder of democracy. The rule should be the same for the ruling and the Opposition parties but in Bengal the Trinamool Congress is trying to set a different rule which has to be stopped and we will do that. The Government is warned against any misadventure and if they do they will be held responsible for the consequences as we will hold the rally at the same place and on the same day at any cost," Sinha said.
The BJP is expecting one lakh-plus rally on the said date. "We issued four letters to the Kolkata Police since July 22 but they conveniently slept on our applications when the convention is: An application received by the police means permission given," Sinha said alleging "the police are now hiding behind technical reasons."
When asked as to why such permissions were being given to the Trinamool Congress, the Police Commissioner reportedly told a BJP delegation that "only the Trinamool is given such permission because they have been holding the rally for the past several years."