Calcutta HC allows Mamata's all-faith rally on Ram Temple inauguration day, rejects BJP's plea
Kolkata/IBNS: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday allowed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to hold her already announced all-faith rally on January 22, rejecting the plea filed by Leader of Opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Suvendu Adhikari.
Not retraining the rally, which will be held on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya, a division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya said as quoted by Live Law, "It is the duty of the state to ensure that the common public is not affected on account of this rally since 22nd Jan which is a working day.
"No speech shall be made hurting the sentiments of people belonging to a religion or any sect. All participants of the rally shall be sensitised. If any violation occurs, the organisers may be held responsible."
Adhikari had filed a plea seeking to stop the rally which, as he says, will lead to a law and order crisis in the state on January 22.
Speaking at a press conference at her office Nabanna on Tuesday, Mamata announced she will offer prayers at Kalighat Temple, which is close to her residence.
She will then hold an all-faith rally from Hazra More to Park Circus in south Kolkata but refused to acknowledge it as a counter to Ram Temple inauguration.
"We will cover mosques, temples, churches, gurdwaras on the way," mentioned the Chief Minister.
In reference to the Ram Temple event, Mamata, who heads the ruling Trinamool Congress and a staunch opponent of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said, "Pran Pratistha is not our job. It is the job of seers and sadhus. Our job is to build the infrastructure. I will do that."