PIL filed in Cal HC to stop BJP’s rath yatra before assembly polls

Kolkata: PIL was filed before the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday, praying for its interference to prevent the BJP’s planned ‘rath yatra’ across West Bengal,claiming that it would impact the COVID-19 situation and law and order in the state.

The BJP has sought permission from the state government for its month-long ‘rath yatra’ ahead of the assembly elections, which is due in April-May.

The saffron party plans to take out five rallies criss-crossing West Bengal from this month.

The matter is likely to come up before the high court on Friday, petitioner Rama Prasad Sarkar, a lawyer by profession, said.

The court had in December 2018 denied permission tothe BJP for a ‘rath yatra’ that was to commence from Cooch behar in north Bengal.