Kolkata: BJP has received the permission from Kolkata police to hold a public rally at Shahid Minar on February 6 but contrary to speculation, national president Amit Shah will not address the gathering.
Sources said Central ministers like Venkaiah Naidu and Smriti Irani may address the rally. However, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh only confirmed the participation of Kailash Vijayvargiya.
Other leaders likely to attend are Babul Supriyo, Roopa Ganguly, Sidharth Nath Singh etc. “Amit ji was keen on addressing a rally in Kolkata. He wanted to present the Modi government’s stand on demonetisation and other issues before the people of Bengal,” a state BJP functionary said, adding Mr Shah would not be able to attend due to his preoccupation with the Assembly elections in five states.
The leader claimed the state BJP had sent three applications to the police seeking permission to hold the rally at Shahid Minar.
Recently, Kolkata police had initially denied permission for RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s rally at Brigade Parade Ground but later relented following an order from the Calcutta high court.
