Cops deny permission to BJP-backed 'Banga Sangeet Utsav', party blames Trinamul Congress
Telegraph | 21 January 2024
Police on Saturday denied permission to the BJP-backed "Banga Sangeet Utsav", prompting leaders of the saffron camp to accuse the cops of working at the behest of the ruling Trinamul.
To give a platform to singers allegedly denied space at the state government's "Gaan Mela", BJP leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Jitendra Tiwari decided to host the "Banga Sangeet Utsav" at Princep Ghat on Saturday under the aegis of the Cultural and Literary Forum of Bengal, an organisation aligned to the saffron camp.
However, Tiwari was informed on Saturday morning that they lacked permission for the event and it could not be held.
"Well before planning the event on Saturday, we had communicated verbally with Calcutta police. Since the area falls under army jurisdiction, they (cops) advised us to obtain a no objection certificate (NOC) from the army and submit a formal application to the police. Adhering to procedures, we sent an application, along with the NOC, to the joint commissioner of Calcutta police on January 18. We began the process only after receiving their verbal approval," said Tiwari.
The organisers alleged that the police worked at Trinamul's behest to scuttle the event after initially cooperating with them.
"Officials from the South Port police station on Friday afternoon thoroughly examined aspects such as entry and exit points and accommodation. We cooperated fully with their inspection. However, on Saturday morning, they suddenly told us the programme can't be held," said Pritam Sarkar, an organiser.
The police said the organisers didn’t get formal permission.
“This is a busy area and we cannot allow this to happen. There was no letter of permission and so we asked them to dismantle the stage,” a senior police officer said.
Organisers contended that they had obeyed all procedural requirements. "The police visited the place and even advised us on which side to put up the stage," Tiwari said.
BJP Chakdaha MLA Bankim Ghosh said their events were "consistently denied permission".