Hitting out at West Bengal Chief Minister for banning his entry into state, VHP leader Pravin Togadia today wondered whether Mamata Banerjee would arrest preachers belonging to a minority religion on streets and mass prayer attenders at places of worship.
"It is Mamata Banerjee's blunder to apply Section 144 CrPC in every district of Bengal to ban my entry for the rally on April 5.
"Would Mamata didi arrest a minority religious leader sermonising on streets and attenders for mass prayers in a place of worship on a particular Friday this month?" Togadia told PTI.
The VHP leader said he was scheduled to attend a VHP rally of more than 2000 people in North Dinajpur district on April 5.
"And why ban entry of one man for rally of 2000 people when the Supreme Court scraps Article 66A for internet, that reaches crores of people? Mamata Didi's decsion would get Hindus and Jain votes for BJP, so wonder who really got Mamata Didi to issue such ridiculous ban and impose section 144 CrPC in all districts," Togadia said.
The West Bengal Government today banned entry of the Vishva Hindu Parishad leader into the state fearing "disruption in public tranquility and communal tension".
The government issued a notification in this regard under the provision of Section 144 CrPC asking District Magistrates to execute it in their respective jurisdictions, state Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee said.
"All District Magistrates have been asked to execute the notification in their respective jurisdictions banning entry into the state under Section 144 of CrPC to prevent disruption in public tranqility and communal tension," Banerjee told PTI.
State secretariat sources also confirmed the step which, they said, was taken keeping in mind the upcoming civic poll in the state.
