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BJP Leaders to Meet CEC on WB Govt Not Letting Them Hold Rallies

The BJP leaders called the state govt’s refusal to allow them to hold rallies as “undemocratic” & “fascist”.

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India
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A BJP delegation will meet the Election Commission on Monday, 4 February, to raise the issue of how the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government was doing everything it could to prevent BJP leaders from holding rallies in the state.

A day earlier, BJP workers had hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party the Trinamool Congress (TMC), after the state government allegedly denied permission for Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath's chopper to land in the state, calling it a glaring case of "undemocratic and fascist behaviour".

Senior BJP leader and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said his party would urge the Election Commission to take notice of this issue since Adityanath, being the chief minister of one the largest states in the country in terms of population, was not allowed to hold public meetings in West Bengal.

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"It is deeply regrettable and condemnable and true to the undemocratic record of Mamata Ji and TMC. It is a glaring case of undemocratic and fascist behaviour. The only reason behind preventing Yogi Adityanath's chopper from landing is panic and a sense of fear as Bengalis are yearning for change," Prasad said.

“We would urge the Election Commission to take due notice of it as a popular chief minister of the country’s largest state (in terms of population), was not allowed to hold a public meeting.”
Rabi Shankar Prasad 

Prasad mentioned that BJP president Amit Shah was also not allowed to hold a rally in West Bengal and there were attempts to disrupt the prime minister's rally there as well.

BJP sources said they would make the West Bengal government's "attack" on the saffron party's democratic rights a big issue and that they would approach various Institutions.

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Adityanath and West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh were scheduled to address "Ganatantra Bacaho Rallies" at Balurghat in South Dinajpur district and Raiganj in North Dinajpur district.

Adityanath addressed the rallies there telephonically and lashed out at the "anti-people" Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in the state, saying the days of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's rule are "numbered".

Though the BJP had been allowed to organise the rallies, the district administration denied permission for Adityanath's chopper to land at both the places, party leaders said.

Following denial of permission to land his chopper, Adityanath decided not to attend either of the rallies and instead addressed them telephonically.

"This is nothing new. Whenever we try to organise any rally, they create hurdles. This is shameful. But the TMC is mistaken if it thinks it can stop us by not giving us permission for holding rallies or landing chopper," Dilip Ghosh told PTI.

Addressing both the rallies through audio link, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, "The TMC government didn't allow me to come and meet you all. That is why I had to resort to the Digital India of Modi Ji to address you."

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Lashing out at the Mamata Banerjee government, the UP chief minister said, "This TMC government is anti-people and anti-democratic and has compromised with the national security."

"The TMC government is afraid of the BJP as it very well knows its days in the state are numbered," he said.

Alleging that the Banerjee government had tried to "stop" Durga Puja in West Bengal to pursue its appeasement policy, Adityanath urged BJP workers to fight vigorously and ensure that the party forms the next government in the state.

"Mamata Banerjee should remember that she cannot misuse the government and its agencies in the state. It is shameful that the government officials are acting as TMC cadres in the state," he said.

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Pol Parties Have ‘Democratic Right’ to Conduct Programmes: Guv

Responding to the claims made by BJP leaders, Governor K N Tripathi said that every political party had the "constitutional anddemocratic right" to conduct their programmes.

Commenting on political violence in West Bengal, Tripathi said violence should always be "deprecated and condemned" whether it is linked to political or criminal activities.

Speaking to PTI, Tripathi said:

“In a democracy, political programmes are bound to take place. This is a part of constitutional and democratic right, and all parties should therefore obey the command of the Constitution and follow it in true spirit.”

He was asked whether it is right for a state government to stop political parties from taking out rallies and yatras. Tripathi however refrained from naming any particular political party or government.

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

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