Anti-BJP posters surface ahead of Shah's rally in Kolkata

Ahead of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Amit Shah's public rally in Kolkata on Friday, posters reading 'Anti-Bengal BJP Go Back' were seen put up around Mayo Road, in the heart of the city.

Yesterday, the delegation comprised of BJP's national general secretaries Kailash Vijayvargiya and P Muralidhar Rao went to Mayo Road and took stock of the preparations and security arrangements for Shah's rally.

Earlier, some reports emerged that the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government had denied permission to the BJP to hold Shah's rally, but later Kolkata Police came in front and refuted the speculations.

In reaction to such speculative reports, Shah had made it clear in Delhi that he would not only go to Kolkata but is even prepared to get arrested. Shah said, "It does not matter whether I get permission or not, I will definitely go to Kolkata. If the state government wants, it can arrest me."

However, Kolkata Police on August 1 announced that Shah has been granted permission for a public rally in Kolkata.

From past few days, the confrontation between the BJP and the Opposition has been undergoing over the release of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft list in Assam on July 30, which has left out nearly 40 lakh people in Assam while incorporating names of 2.89 crore people out of 3.29 crore applicants.

Banerjee has been consistently disapproving the latest NRC draft. Accusing the BJP of vendetta politics, she had said that the party was targeting people in the wake of general elections scheduled in 2019. She has also accused the BJP of conspiracy against minorities.