In a significant development, the Calcutta High Court has intervened and restrained the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) from executing their planned August 5 'gherao' programme, which aimed to surround the homes of BJP leaders in West Bengal.
The court's ruling came in response to a petition filed by Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly, who alleged that the call for the 'gherao' was initiated by TMC's national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, during the TMC's July 21 rally. Notably, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also supported the call in her speech from the same platform.
The division bench, presided over by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, ordered all respondents and involved parties to refrain from any protest, 'gherao,' or traffic-blocking that could inconvenience the general public on August 5.
Abhishek Banerjee, TMC's Diamond Harbour MP, had called for the 'gherao' to demand the release of funds due to West Bengal from the Centre. However, the Chief Minister proposed that the protest should be held at a distance of 100 meters away from the residences of BJP leaders, according to PTI.
Suvendu Adhikari argued that since the protest was initiated and endorsed by both Abhishek Banerjee and the Chief Minister, no rally should be allowed to take place at all.
The court has given all respondents a window of 10 days to submit affidavits supporting their respective contentions against Adhikari's PIL. The matter is set to be heard again after two weeks, keeping everyone on edge as they await the next chapter in this high-stakes legal battle.
Amidst the controversy, the lawyer representing Abhishek Banerjee assured the court that the 'gherao' would have been a symbolic gesture, maintaining a distance of 100 meters from the homes of BJP leaders, had it been permitted to proceed.
