After Mohan Bhagwat, Amit Shah denied permission for Kolkata event; BJP cries conspiracy

Kolkata: Almost a day after RSS was forced to cancel an event that was scheduled to take place at a Kolkata's state-fun auditorium, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday was compelled to call off a major rally planned for its president Amit Shah here next week. 

The BJP was scheduled to hold a major rally for its chief next week at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata and for this, the party had sought booking for September 10 or 13. 

At least 12,000 party workers and supporters were expected to attend the programme. However, the party had to cancel the event after the stadium authorities denied reservation for the said dates citing pre-booking for the entire month, except for September 27-30. 

Blaming the Bengal government for the denial of permission for the event, Sayantan Basu, general secretary of BJP, told Hindustan Times, "On August 30, we were told that the stadium was booked for the entire month except the Durga Puja days on September 27-30." 

He further added that no other public hall was available for the event between September 10 and 13 in the capital city. 

The Trinamool Congress soon retorted back at the charges made by BJP. 

West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said, "Those incapable of filling the Netaji Indoor Stadium could only come up with such allegations. The state government has no role in it."

On Tuesday, RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat's event, that was scheduled to be held at state-run Mahajati Sadan auditorium was cancelled with authorities citing repair and restoration work as the reason for permission denial. 

The event was scheduled to be held on October 3.

The authorities, while denying any 'political pressure' behind the cancellation of the event at the auditorium, said that the hall remains closed between September 6 to October 6 annually to undertake renovation work.