Mamata Banerjee is scared of BJP's yatra: Amit Shah

Hitting out at the West Bengal administration for not cooperating with the BJP, Shah said: "Mamata Banerjee is scared. She feels the seed of change will be sown in the state if the yatra travels across the state."

"People of Bengal are ready for a change."

Shah, who was scheduled to flag off the BJP's first yatra in Cooch Behar at 4 pm on Friday, has cancelled his visit this morning.

However, Shah said he will go to West Bengal for all the three yatras which, he said, have been "postponed" not "cancelled".

The West Bengal government told the court that it cannot grant permission for the yatra as it cannot make arrangements in such a short period of time.   

The high court, which had denied permission to the 40-day yatra owing to security reasons in such a short time, asked the BJP not to hold the programme till January 9, the next hearing date.

Meanwhile, the BJP had moved the division bench of the high court against the verdict passed on Thursday. The bench will hear the plea on Friday.

Shah utilised the press conference as an opportunity to attack Mamata-led TMC government for ruining democracy in the eastern state.

Alleging that the TMC and state police are working together, the BJP chief attacked Mamata over recent panchayat violence, vote-bank politics, political violence and also immigration issue.

Sending a strong message to the Chief Minister, Shah, who said violence in the state under the present regime is worse than the 34-year Communist rule, said: "By stopping such yatras, Mamata will only invoke anger of people. BJP workers won't cow down."

The BJP president, who will visit Kolkata on December 8, also said the party will move the Supreme Court if they don't get a favourable judgement in the lower court.