Calcutta HC dismisses BJP’s plea seeking stay on Mamata Banerjee’s January 22 multi-faith rally

financialexpress.com:

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday declined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari’s plea to stop the Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s “Sampriti” (harmony) rally scheduled for January 22, coinciding with the Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya.

A division bench of Justices TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya heard the plea and questioned the connection between the harmony rally and the Ram Mandir inauguration while stressing the need for maintaining peace during the event in West Bengal.

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The court issued a directive that no speeches or expressions hurting the sentiments of any religious or sectarian group should be made during the rally.

“During the rally, no speech or utterances be made hurting the sentiments of a section of the people belonging to a particular religion or sect and this shall be scrupulously followed. All persons participating in the rally must be sensitised. If violence happens organisers must be held liable,” the Court ordered today, according to Bar and Bench.

The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Adhikari, who moved court seeking a halt to the rally, expressing concerns about potential large-scale violence during the scheduled TMC rally in the state on January 22.

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On Tuesday, Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal refused to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya and announced that she will be in Kolkata on January 22 and that she plans to offer prayers at a Kali temple and lead an interfaith rally.

Adhikari urged the Court to either