BJP Moves SC Over ‘Rath Yatra’ in WB, Seeks Urgent Hearing

Earlier, Calcutta HC had approved BJP ‘Rath Yatras’ in West Bengal, directing the state govt to ensure law & order.

The saffron party was originally supposed to hold multiple ‘Rath Yatras’ in the state, starting from Cooch Behar from 7 December.

(Photo altered by The Quint)

Seeking an urgent hearing of its petition against Calcutta HC not allowing its Rath Yatra in West Bengal, the BJP, on 24 December, moved the vacation bench of the Supreme Court, reported PTI.

On Friday, 21 December, a day after Calcutta High Court approved three BJP ‘Rath Yatras’ in West Bengal, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court had overturned the order, reported ANI.

The BJP leadership had then huddled in an emergency meeting to decide the party's next course of action after its ambitious ‘Rath Yatras’ criss-crossing the entire West Bengal hit a roadblock.

Party leaders had said that they will wait for the High Court verdict on the 'yatra' and if needed will move the “higher court” for permission.

“The TMC is afraid of BJP,” state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh said while entering the party office before the meeting.

The state government had earlier said it would challenge the HC’s decision before Chief Justice's division bench.

What Was the Initial Verdict by Calcutta HC?

On Thursday, 20 December, the single-judge bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty, while allowing BJP’s ‘Rath Yatras’, directed the state government to ensure that there is no breach of law and order.

The saffron party was originally supposed to hold multiple ‘Rath Yatras’ in the state, starting from Cooch Behar from 7 December.

BJP President Amit Shah was scheduled to flag off three chariots from different parts of the state, which were to travel across the state’s 42 parliamentary constituencies before concluding in Kolkata.

The permission for these, however, was denied by the Trinamool-run Bengal government on the grounds that it might lead to communal disharmony.

The BJP then moved the high court to overrule the state government’s stand. Ruling on the BJP’s petition, the court had directed the Bengal government to meet three representatives from the BJP by 12 December to sort out the logistics of the event, and come to a decision regarding granting permission by 14 December.

After the meeting, the Bengal government once again denied permission.

BJP Leaders Welcomed HC’s Initial Decision

BJP leaders had welcomed the high court’s decision, and hailed it as a victory against the Trinamool Congress.

Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh had said that the event will begin “very soon” and “according to schedule.” Speaking to PTI, Ghosh said:

“We thank the court for its verdict. It is a historic one. The Gantantra Bachao Yatra will start very soon and will be held as per schedule. We have already submitted new dates but we can adjust the dates accordingly. We will follow all the instructions given by the court.”

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and state BJP leader Mukul Roy also tweeted:

BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya had said that though the dates had not been finalised, the ‘Rath Yatra’ would be held as per its earlier schedule and move across all the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

BJP MP Babul Supriyo also took the opportunity to allege that the Mamata Banerjee-led government was giving the issue a communal colour. He had told ANI:

“Very smartly she added the word “rath” to the yatra, the moment you add “rath” to it, you associate it with Mahabharata and Ramayana, then it becomes easier to accuse BJP of being a communal force. She’s doing it to appease minorities.”