Police keep BJP waiting for meet nod

KOUSHIK SEN, TT, Dec 28, 2017, Raiganj: Confusion prevailed over whether a BJP public meeting would be held here on Friday as planned because the district administration is yet to grant permission.

BJP sources said Babul Supriyo, the Union minister of state heavy industries and public enterprises, and Dilip Ghosh, the state president of BJP, are scheduled to attend the rally.

Local BJP leaders appeared determined to hold the meeting and Nirmal Dam, the district president of the party, accused police of "intentionally denying permission".

The district leaders had applied to the North Dinajpur administration requesting permission for the programme at Chanditala a couple of weeks back.

The leadership has asked supporters and workers from all blocks to attend the meeting, projected as the launch pad for the BJP's campaign for the rural polls next year.

"We had earlier decided to hold the meeting on an open ground beside Raiganj station. But later, we decided to shift the venue to Chanditala as we expect a massive turnout of supporters from different corners of the district," a BJP leader said.

"We had applied for necessary permission to the local administration couple of weeks back. Though we are yet to receive the permission so far, we are making all preparations for the meeting and have started our campaign across the district," the leader added.

Dam, the district president of the BJP, said: "We have waited for the permission nearly a week. Having failed to get any response from the police, we have assumed that they don't have any objection and started our preparation. We will hold the meeting at any cost."

Sumanta Biswas, the inspector in-charge of Raiganj police station, said: "We got their application for the meeting. But considering the festive season, we are now busy with deploying forces in different areas for maintaining law and order."

"We will have to take any decision to permit the meeting keeping this (law and order) in view," Biswas added.