Mamata Banerjee Government on Wednesday played, what the Opposition is calling, a communal card barely three weeks ahead of the upcoming municipal polls, and clamped prohibitory orders against VHP leader Praveen Togadia. A circular was issued by the Home Department against Togadia, aacording to which, he would be arrested if he tries to enter Bengal. The VHP leader was likely to visit the State on April 5 to take part in a pre-scheduled programme.
The Government directive said in view of Togadia’s recent activities like some closed-door and public meetings there was sufficient apprehension that his presence in the State could fan communal tension. Though the ruling Trinamool sources said the Government’s immediate trigger behind such an order was due to the Rampurhat incident, the Opposition saw the Chief Minister’s “nefarious electoral designs behind such act.” The BJP would not make any official statement on the issue. But Congress leader Abdul Mannan said the move was unconstitutional as no authority could act barely on the basis of apprehension. He said the prohibitive orders were unwarranted and was aimed at gaining political points.
