Kolkata rallies need nod from police HQ
In what may trigger another controversy about the Mamata Banerjee government’s attempt to curb the freedom of expression, the Kolkata police has issued an order making it mandatory for all organisations — civil rights groups and political outfits — to seek permission from the Lalbazar police headquarters before organising public rallies.
The latest directive comes on the basis of intelligence inputs on the rise in hobnobbing between Maoists and some civil liberty groups, according to sources.
Significantly, the order has come only days after the Nonadanga agitation in which the state administration claimed to have found the presence of “Maoist sympathisers”.
The applications, the new rule says, would have to be submitted to the office of joint commissioner of the police (headquarters). The applicants’ background and records will be scrutinised, along with the reports of the special branch of the city police, intelligence branch of the West Bengal police and the subsidiary intelligence bureau of the ministry of home affairs, sources revealed.
If the police is satisfied that they or their events will not pose security threat, only then permission will be given. Earlier, organisers used to obtain permission from an inspector rank officer, the officer-in-charge of the local police stations where the rallies or meeting were scheduled.
On Saturday, Matangini Mahila Samiti leader Debalina Chakraborty, who was in CID custody for the Nonadanga agitation, was remanded to jail custody by the Alipore court till May 5.
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Rahul gandhi to visit mumbai next week
AGE CORRESPONDENT
new delhi, APRIL 21
In perhaps his first major tour after the Uttar Pradesh poll outcome, AICC general Rahul Gandhi will visit Mumbai next week.
Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who met Congress president chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, merely said in reply to a question that the young Congress leader would be coming to Mumbai for two functions, but did not give details and the exact date.
Mr Prithviraj Chavan said that one of the events was being organised by the Congress.
Mr Gandhi is expected to address a meeting of the Indian Youth Congress workers on April 27.
The PCC wants Mr Gandhi to address a meeting of its office-bearers and district and bloc Congress chiefs on the same day in Mumbai.
Mr Gandhi’s visit to the state is significant in the sense that it is passing through a fluid political situation.
The Congress and its ally are sharing power with the Shiv Sena-BJP combine and the MNS in some districts, sending a message that they are not “untouchable” politically.
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