Act tough against armed rallies: Mamata to police

Saibal Gupta | TNN | Sep 5, 2017, KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday directed the police to act tough against public brandishing of weapons in illegal rallies and processions.

The CM asked district magistrates and police superintendents who attended the administrative meeting to disallow any deliberate attempt to foment tension by such armed processions.

Banerjee's assertions come in wake of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)'s claim that it will organize a statewide Trishul Utsav programme on Vijaya Dashami.

"Weapons like tridents or swords only suit gods and goddesses," the CM said at the meeting, making it very clear that the government is not ready to allow the VHP or Bajrang Dal activists to hold armed Ram Navami rallies.

Banerjee, however, didn't speak of any blanket ban, suggested sources. Her ire was directed against congregations organised without police permission. Any procession — including religious ones — must seek prior approval from police. Any rally without that prior approval will be considered to be illegal.

During the Ram Navami celebrations in April this year, the police had slapped several penal sections in addition to the Arms Act.

According to Nabanna sources, the Mamata Banerjee administration isn't against religious processions. "We have no problem with such rallies. But they have to take permission. If they don't, they will have to face the (legal) consequences. Who do they think they are?" the chief minister had said at a public rally in Asansol on April 7.

The VHP was quick to react. "She is trying to stop us from performing our religious activities on September 30. Let her make a public announcement and come out with a notification. Then we will see," VHP's zonal organising community in charge of Bengal, Assam and Sikkim, Sachindranath Singha, had told TOI. "It is called 'Sashtra Pujo' where the Hindus worship the weapons and it is not at all aimed at terrorising anybody. We will be writing to all the Puja organisers to observe the occasion in their own way," Singh said.

Sources in the home department said: "The West Bengal government will not interfere if anyone observes the religious function at a personal level but display of weapons on a public platform will not be allowed".