April 25, 2024 14:38 (IST)
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Kolkata civic bodies grant permission for Amit Shah's rally
Kolkata, Nov 29 (IBNS): A day after the Calcutta High Court gave conditional permission to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah to hold a rally in Kolkata on Sunday, the city's municipal corporation on Saturday finally granted the leader a go ahead for his venture.
"The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has granted permission to BJP President Amit Shah's rally tomorrow," Mayor in-council Debasish Kumar told media.
In fact, the fire brigade in Kolkata has also given its nod to the party.
While the NOCs from both the bodies were received later in the day, the party began its preparations for the rally in front of the famous Victoria House at the heart of the city from Saturday morning.
State party spokesman Ritesh Tiwari was quoted by media as hailing the move a "moral victory" of BJP, which has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of trying to create hurdles in order to stall the rally.
The Calcutta High Court on Friday allowed the BJP chief to hold rally outside the Victoria House, a popular venue for political meetings in Kolkata on Sunday.
The High Court however asked the BJP to "comply with statutes" of the city's civic body and fire brigade and appointed two special officers to assist the party.
According to reports, Justice Debangshu Basak appointed the director general of state Fire Services and joint commissioner (development) of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) as special officers and asked the city police commissioner to depute an appropriate officer to assist them to ensure compliance of rules.
The Calcutta High court had also directed the BJP to have technical experts to carry out the compliance order of the special officers.
The court had relaxed the municipal norm of leaving 20 feet open space in front of the stage on grounds of reasonable logistics.
The move comes after Trinamool Congress-run KMC and Fire Services on Thursday refused to grant permission to BJP president Amit Shah's rally.
Citing this, Kolkata Police didn't give the clearance to BJP.
A bemused BJP State chief Rahul Sinha later reacted, "This must be a record in India... perhaps it can be entered in the Guinness book... we have gone to court three times to seek this venue." "Let the corporation design the stage, we are fine with that."
The BJP had alleged a political motive after its request was rejected.
Rahul Sinha had said that the TMC was afraid of the BJP and by "declaring undeclared emergency, it was trying to gag the voice of the Opposition".
"On the instruction of the chief minister, the authorities are refusing permission to hold the meeting," he had alleged.
But refusing to quit the battle, BJP on Friday again appealed to Justice Debangshu Basak's bench seeking fresh permission.
The two parties were at loggerheads over controversy for quite some time surrounding the location of the rally.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had applied as early as July for permission to hold a public meeting outside Victoria House in Esplanade area, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee holds an annual rally every July for her party.
After several intimidation, when the city Police didn't pay heed to their requests, the party appealed to a Calcutta High Court.
Police however, has refused to give the necessary nod in last week, four months after BJP applied, contending that the rally would cause jams since Victoria House is near a major traffic intersection.
The city police said that Amit Shah's meeting would inconvenience commuters since a major traffic intersection is located at the venue.
The BJP has pointed out that no such concern has been expressed for the Chief Minister's address. Alleging discrimination, the party has refused to consider an alternative location.
After which on last Tuesday the saffron brigade contented in front of the court that ruling Trinamool Congress holds its annual meeting of party workers at the same location every 21 July.
The court has asked BJP to sort the issue with police, following which the party leaders met city's Commissioner of Police Surajit Kar Purakayastha on Thursday, who advised them an alternative spot.
But with BJP denying to accept the alternative, the matter got struck mid-way.
BJP knocked the HC doors again.
The court had then directed the KP commissioner to sit with state BJP leadership to sort out the issue and submit a report.
The commissioner had told the court that permission could not be granted as they had not produced mandatory fire services and KMC permission.
Following which the bench on Wednesday asked the party to get clearances of KMC and Fire Brigade as per norms.
But on Thursday the KMC and Fire Services denied to give them clearance raising objections that included the lack of a proper sketch of the stage the BJP plans to build.
Following which, BJP requested Justice Basak for permission.
On Friday the court observed, "There is no argument that a meeting cannot be held in front of Victoria House, which is a public place."
As per media reports, Judge also said that this is the first attempt by a political party to comply with fire and municipal body regulations to hold a public meeting and as such they must be given some leeway.
"It is a historical judgment...it paves the way for local administrations to treat all political parties equally and to not be influenced by their political masters," said the BJP's Siddharth Nath Singh after Friday's verdict which ended the impasse.
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