Kolkata, September 16 (Daily Kiran) : The Kolkata High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed against former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The case stemmed from comments she made during a public rally earlier this year concerning Bangladesh.
During a hearing on September 1, the court requested a report from the state government regarding Banerjee’s controversial remarks. The report presented on Wednesday indicated that her statements did not contain any elements of a cognizable offense.
Following this, a bench led by Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge rejected the PIL submitted by a petitioner named Abartanus Sarkar.
On June 2, at a rally in Esplanade, Kolkata, Banerjee referenced an incident involving a suspect from Bangladesh. While she did not name anyone directly, many believed her comments related to the murder of young Bangladeshi leader Osman Hadi.
Banerjee stated that a murderer from Bangladesh had entered West Bengal via Meghalaya, and that the state’s Special Task Force (STF) had apprehended him during her tenure as Chief Minister. She recalled that the Union Home Minister had personally called her to commend the arrest.
“I have remained silent for so long. But the limits of oppression against us have been crossed. Out of courtesy, I do not wish to name anyone, as it might upset the people of Bangladesh. I love that country,” she said.
Despite calls from attendees at the rally to name the individual involved, she refused, citing national interest. This prompted Sarkar to file the PIL seeking legal action. During the September 1 hearing, the court raised questions about the admissibility of the PIL, with the then Acting Chief Justice Tapobrata Chakraborty questioning whether the court could entertain every statement made by individuals.
The case highlights the ongoing political tensions in West Bengal and the scrutiny faced by public figures over their statements.
Leave a Comment