Calcutta High Court allows meet to protest alleged atrocities against ‘Sanatani Hindus’

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday said the organisers of a dharna to protest against the alleged atrocities on ‘West Bengal Sanatani Hindus’ can proceed with the programme on Friday..Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, however, made it clear that in case the public meeting is being held on the road, the organizers would have to abide by the conditions being suggested by the State.“I will pass the order in the morning. It will be uploaded, you proceed. I am not preventing you, process and proceed ... but the address you have furnished and the location you are visualizing are two different places,” the judge remarked. .The Court was hearing a petition moved by Sunil Harsh, the President of Kamal Sangh Kolkata which is organising the programme. The plea alleged that authorities have failed to act on representations seeking permission for the Pratiwad Sabha to be presided over by Leader of Opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari..In response, a counsel representing the State said it does not have objection to the protest but there should not be any traffic snarls because of it. Thus, it was suggested that dharna should be held at a particular time and away from the road.The Court agreed that traffic-related problems may arise at the spot selected for the protest. The parties including the State then discussed the timing and other conditions for the protest.“There must be a ground reality problem which must be appreciated,” the Single Judge told the petitioner..With the petitioner and State disagreeing at the number of participants to be allowed, the Court remarked the organizers may not be able to gather the expected number of 3000.Since there was no clarity on the exact spot where the protest is to be held, the Court then adjourned the matter for passing of a formal order on Friday morning.“Tomorrow morning you come. You do it, I am not preventing…,” the Single Judge, while seeking clarity on the conditions to be met by the organisers.