Amit Shah’s rally in Kolkata on November 30 called off

After Bihar drubbing, BJP president Amit Shah’s proposed rally in the city on November 30 was called off on Thursday.

BJP state president Rahul Sinha said the rally was called off as Shah would be attending rallies in the state in December.

He denied that the decision on Shah not attending the November 30 rally had anything to do with Bihar polls results.

“On November 6, the state leaders had a meeting with national leaders wherein it was decided that we will have 6-7 cluster meetings in December. We want Amit Shah to attend those rallies (to be held in December),” he said.

The November 30 rally of BJP will be attended by the party's central leaders and there will be a march from College Square to Rani Rashmoni Road, Sinha said.

BJP, he said, will try to hold a rally with Prime Minister as a main speaker in January, when Narendra Modi will be in Kolkata to attend government programmes.

Reffering to the party's dismal showing in Bihar, Sinha said it would not spoil the prospects of the party in Bengal.

“How can the (poll) result of one state impact the prospects of BJP in Bengal? When BJP had won Bihar in 2005 and 2010, did that have an impact on Bengal? The answer is no. So why will it impact now?” Sinha said.

He crticised artists and those raising their voices against the issue of alleged intolerance. “Why are those artists, who have spoken so much against intolerance, mum all of a sudden just after the Bihar results? It is because their protest was politically motivated with an eye on Bihar polls ?” he asked.