Mamata bans Togadia entry into Bengal

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?

— PRAVIN TOGADIA VHP chief

The Mamata Banerjee government on Wednesday issued a circular barring the entry of Vishva Hindu Parishad international working president Pravin Togadia into West Bengal because it fears that it would disturb communal harmony and peace. Mr Togadia’s entry has earlier been banned in Karnataka and Assam too. The circular dated March 31 has been issued by the state home department and has been signed by home secretary Basudeb Banerjee. The circular says that prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC have been promulgated throughout the state by respective district magistrate and commissioner of police of every district prohibiting the entry of Mr Togadia.

“They apprehend that entry of Pravin Togadia, his holding closed door or public meetings/ rallies will lead to communal tension and this would cause disturbance of the public tranquillity,” the circular elaborates.

The circular warns that these “prohibitory orders will be strictly enforced”, suggesting that if Mr Togadia tries to disregard the ban and tries to forcibly enter the state, he will be arrested. Mr Togadia is scheduled to visit the state on April 5. According to sources, he is scheduled to address a meeting in North Dinajpur’s Raiganj town in north Bengal that day. “Given his past record, the home department did not want to take any chances. In the last few months he had on several occasions tried to fuel communal passions,” Nabanna sources said.