Court orders Bengal govt to talk with BJP on rath yatra

The Calcutta High Court division bench has repealed the single bench ruling cancelling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Rath yatra.

The division bench of Calcutta High Court on Friday (December 7) directed three BJP representatives to hold a meeting with West Bengal's Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and Director General of Police of the state to discuss plans to conduct three legs of the rath yatra.

Calcutta HC directed top West Bengal officials to hold meeting with the BJP by December 12; decide on granting permission to the rath yatra by December 14.

Calcutta High Court refused to grant permission for BJP president Amit Shah's rath yatra which was to kick-off from Cooch Behar on December 7.

Posters and flags TMC fixed besides BJP hoardings and banners along NH-31, on the eve of Amit Shah's rath yatra in Cooch Behar, West Bengal.

After the Bengal government refused permission, the BJP approached Calcutta High Court, which in turn refused to set aside the government's decision. As a result, the BJP had to postpone the three rath yatras.

Shah said that the yatras have not been cancelled, "just postponed" and that the BJP will follow the judicial process to get permission.