“We will not allow government land to be sold. This government has sold Alipore Jail land and tram depot land… now the ruling government is trying to sell 250 kathas of property of the zoo animal hospital,” Adhikari told mediapersons on Thursday.

The Calcutta High Court had permitted the rally protesting the Bengal government’s “decision” to sell land opposite the Alipore Zoo, where a quarantine centre for animals was to come up.

Justice Jay Sengupta allowed the BJP to go ahead with its planned rally on Thursday, but ruled that no more than 1,000 people could join it. Justice Sengupta’s order came after a petition was filed by Adhikari, who alleged that Kolkata Police had refused permission for the rally.

Adhikari further alleged that a significant portion of the money from selling the land would go to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s family and TMC party funds for the next election. “We will not allow any inch of the historical Alipore Zoo land to be sold. We want all to rise and fight against this corruption,” the senior BJP leader said.

Meanwhile, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh alleged that “no one will support the BJP”. “I hear that no local people supported the protest; they had to bring people from outside for the protest to try and spread misinformation. In this way, the BJP cannot win the hearts of the people… no one will support them,” Ghosh said.

In 2024, the state government had decided to sell off 254 cottahs, or 4.2 acres, of prime land just opposite Alipore Zoo. The area was allotted to the forest department 12 years ago to set up the quarantine centre.