HC: Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction suggests shifting its Martyrs’ day rally to road near Birla Planetarium
Transferring the prayer to the Court of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya for permission for the July 21 Martyrs’ Day rally, the group’s lawyer Kalyan Banerjee stated that the rally has been held in front of Victoria House in central Kolkata since 1993, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, except for two or three years.
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He also suggested the Metro canal on the Esplanade or the Dorina crossing as alternative venues.
Justice Bhattacharyya made it clear that he would not allow a rally in front of Victoria House as it would block Chittaranjan Avenue in the heart of the city.
Kalyan Banerjee stated that the police had given permission for two more rallies to commemorate the day – one by the other group in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue on Mayo Road and the other by the Congress party at the Shahid Minar ground, both on July 21.
The petition by the Mamata Banerjee group challenges the Kolkata Police authority’s imposition of a prohibitory order in the area around Victoria House in Esplanade under Article 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Banerjee suggested an alternative venue, either at the Metro canal on the Esplanade or in front of the Birla Planetarium, a few kilometers away from the other two rallies on the day.
He stated that 13 Congress workers were killed during the rally on July 21, 1993, when Mamata Banerjee was the Youth Congress president, and since then, this day has been commemorated as Martyrs’ Day.
Upon questioning by the court, the lawyer stated that approximately 15,000 to 20,000 people would attend.
Attorney General Surojit Nath Mitra said the police were not against giving permission but the rally should be held at a different place.
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The court asked that if two rallies were allowed, why could not another rally be allowed in the vicinity with adequate police arrangements?
The court adjourned the hearing until 12.30pm on Wednesday, when it will continue and the AG will present his views on the government’s proposals for other venues.
