Calcutta High Court on Friday issued an order asking South 24-Parganas district police to allow the leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, to hold a meeting at Dakshin Akratola under the jurisdiction of Nazat police station in Sandeshkhali on March 10.

Justice Jay Sengupta, however, held that Adhikari would be allowed to hold a meeting
or a rally between 10am and 5pm.

“The Opposition party leader would not be allowed to make any provocative statement that may disturb the law and order situation of the area,” the judge said while passing the order.

Adhikari’s rally in Sandeshkhali will be held on a day the ruling Trinamul Congress will conduct its Janagarjan rally at Brigade Parade Ground, where, according to Bengal’s ruling party, a large number of people from the troubled island will come.

The high court’s order followed a petition by Adhikari who alleged that the
South 24-Parganas police had imposed 144 CrPC under the Nazat police station’s jurisdiction only to prevent Adhikari from holding his meeting.

The advocate who appeared for Adhikari said Trinamul functionaries were being allowed to enter the area, while leaders of the Opposition parties were being barred from going there.

“When the Opposition parties, particularly my client, are approaching the police, they are saying he will not be allowed as the area is still under Section 144 of the CrPC,” the lawyer said.

The state government’s counsel opposed the allegations and said the administration did not want further law and order problems in the area.

“Why is the government repeatedly preventing Opposition parties from holding any political programme in the area? Whom the government wants to shield,” Justice Sengupta asked before issuing the order.