Devotees pull chariots on Ulto Rath Yatra in Bengal
India | July 13, 2019 9:10 ISTThousands of devotees participated in the chariot-pulling ceremony in Ulto Rath Yatra held at many places in West Bengal.
Thousands of devotees participated in the chariot-pulling ceremony in Ulto Rath Yatra held at many places in West Bengal.
Lakhs of people have congregated in Puri for a glimpse of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) as they travel from their home -- the 12th century Jagannath temple to the Shree Gundicha temple, home of their aunt.
Ahead of the annual Jagannath Yatra, the cabinet minister along with his wife Sonal Shah offered prayers to Lord Jagannath. Amit Shah is on a two-day visit to Gujarat. This is his first visit to Gujarat after he took over as Union Home Minister.
She also shared a video message inviting everyone to be a part of the auspicious event.
The Rath Yatra will traverse a distance of 14 kilometres and will have three chariots, 19 elephants, 100 trucks, 30 troupes and seven motorcars.
Revenue minister and senior party leader Chandrakant Patil said Fadnavis' campaign tour will start in August and the date will be announced later.
However, the top court said the West Bengal BJP unit can conduct meetings and rallies.
The West Bengal unit of the BJP has challenged the December 21 order of the division bench of the Calcutta High Court, which had set aside the order of a single-judge bench allowing the procession.
Coming down heavily on the BJP for its proposed Rath Yatras in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said such yatras are typically conducted in the name of God, and not meant to indulge in "danga" (riot).
The party approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to hold the campaign 'Save Democracy Rally', which would cover 42 parliamentary constituencies in the state ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The BJP on Monday approached the Supreme Court against a Calcutta High Court order not allowing its Rath Yatra in West Bengal.
On Friday, the division bench of Chief Justice Debasish Kargupta and Justice Shampa Sarkar quashed the single bench order and asked it hear the case afresh to consider intelligence inputs by the state agencies.
Earlier on Thursday, the high court had allowed the rath yatra saying the organisers will be liable for any untoward incident or damage to public property.
Earlier on Thursday, the high court allowed the rath yatras saying the organisers will be liable for any untoward incident or damage to public property.
According to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sources, party national president Amit Shah will flag off the three yatras.
Reacting to BJP's programme, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) said that the rallies were being held to ignite communal passions in the state before the Lok Sabha election.
The state government at the meeting was represented by Chief Secretary Malay De, Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya and Director-General of Police Virendra.
The 'rath yatra' was scheduled to cover all 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.
The West Bengal government had refused to allow the event over the possibility of communal tension.
The Bharatiya Janata Party had moved the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday, saying it was yet to be given permission for taking out three rallies in West Bengal, scheduled to begin from December 7.
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