A public interest litigation was filed in Calcutta High Court on Wednesday seeking cancellation of Bharatiya Janata Party’s “Rath Yatra”, that is scheduled later this week. Earlier, the BJP wanted to hold a Rath Yatra in the state prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but the state government did not give clearance.
Ahead of the coming Assembly elections in April-May 2021, the BJP has scheduled five “Parivartan Rath Yatras” across the state this month. BJP national president JP Nadda will start one of the rathyatras from Nabadwip on February 6. Nadda will be back in Bengal on February 9 and be part of a second set of rathyatra.
The PIL seeks to stop the rathyatras fearing deterioration in law and order situation, giving rise to communal tension across the state. Considering the COVID-19 situation has not changed completely, and things have not yet returned to normal, the PIL also expressed fear and possibility of the spread of COVID-19 due to the rathyatras. There may be a hearing on the case on Friday.
On Tuesday, BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya confirmed the presence of Amit Shah at one of the rath yatras. Shah will be in Bengal on a two-day visit in Bengal on February 10, and start one of the rath yatras from Cooch Behar on February 11.
The BJP has divided the state into five organizational zones in this rath yatra. The procession will leave Nadia and reach Barrackpore via Murshidabad, Bangaon, Basirhat and Barasat. This is where the procession will end.
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