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Praveen Togadia Banned From Entering Into West Bengal

VHP Leader Praveen Togadia Cannot Enter West Bengal
NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 22: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia in New Delhi on March 22, 2010. (Photo by Parveen Negi/India Today Group/Getty Images)
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NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 22: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia in New Delhi on March 22, 2010. (Photo by Parveen Negi/India Today Group/Getty Images)

Mamata Banerjee's government has banned the entry of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia on the grounds that his presence can incite communal tensions in the state.

Tagodia can be arrested if attempts to enter West Bengal.

"All district magistrates have been asked to execute the notification in their respective jurisdictions banning the entry into the state under Section 144 of CrPC to prevent disruption in public tranquility and communal tension," said Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee, PTI reported.

Karnataka, Odisha and Assam have also banned the VHP leader's entry.

Togadia was scheduled to hold a rally in North Dinajpur district on April 5.

On Wednesday evening, Togadia hit back at West Bengal's decision.

"It is Mamata Banerjee's blunder to apply Section 144 CrPC in every district of Bengal to ban my entry for the rally on April 5," Togadia told PTI. "Would Mamata didi arrest a minority religious leader sermonising on streets and attenders for mass prayers in a place of worship on a particular Friday this month?"

"And why ban entry of one man for rally of 2000 people when the Supreme Court scraps Article 66A for internet, that reaches crores of people? Mamata Didi's decision would get Hindus and Jain votes for BJP, so wonder who really got Mamata Didi to issue such ridiculous ban and impose section 144 CrPC in all districts," he said.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.