Mamata's dictatorship in Bengal, says BJP as permission denied to Shah's rally

The BJP on Monday hit out at the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, alleging the chief minister has replaced democracy with her "dictatorship" after the state administration denied permission to a rally by its president Amit Shah.

Shah was scheduled to hold a rally in Jadhavpur Monday but the state administration denied permission for it last night and also withdrew its nod to the landing of Shah's chopper in the constituency, BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters here.

He urged the Election Commission to take cognizance of the development, saying the state government wants to to reduce the poll panel to a mute spectator.

"This is murder of democracy. The EC should take cognizance of the matter. If important leaders are not allowed to hold rallies then what is the meaning of elections," Javadekar said.

He said the West Bengal administration has been denying permission to Shah's poll programmes and events of other important BJP leaders.

Banerjee's ...