The Calcutta High Court on February 14 granted permission to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to hold a rally in West Bengal, directing that sound levels be kept low to avoid inconvenience to students appearing for examinations.
Justice Amrita Sinha ruled that since the event is scheduled for February 16 and will last only 1 hour and 15 minutes, it is unlikely to disrupt the ongoing Madhyamik examinations. The court ordered that the gathering be conducted peacefully, with sound levels kept to a minimum.
The West Bengal government had refused permission for RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat’s scheduled public meeting in Purba Burdwan district on February 16, citing ongoing Madhyamik (Class 10) board examinations. In response, the RSS has approached the Calcutta High Court, challenging the decision.
The district police, acting under the Mamata Banerjee-led administration, denied the use of a public address system at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) grounds, claiming that loudspeakers would disrupt the exams. However, the RSS had also pointed out that the rally is scheduled for a February 16, when no examinations are being conducted, raising questions over the real intent behind the denial.
Dr Mohan Bhagwat’s visit to Bengal is seen as a strategic move ahead of the 2025 state assembly elections. He has been holding meetings with RSS officials to strengthen the organization’s presence in the state, particularly in Central Bengal. The denial of permission has sparked a fresh confrontation between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government and the RSS-BJP ecosystem.
Observers believe the visit carries added significance amid reports of growing persecution of Hindus in neighboring Bangladesh. Bengal, which shares the longest international border with Bangladesh, has been witnessing an influx of refugees and rising tensions over minority rights. The Mamata government’s decision to block Bhagwat’s rally, critics argue, is part of a broader effort to suppress nationalist voices in the state.
Refusing to back down, the RSS has taken the legal route, with the Calcutta High Court set to hear the plea on February 21 . The case has now become a litmus test for the state’s handling of free speech and political gatherings.
This is not the first time that the TMC government has been accused of selectively restricting opposition events while allowing those aligned with its political interests. The court’s verdict will determine whether the denial of permission was indeed for academic reasons or a politically motivated move to curtail the RSS’s influence in Bengal.
