Mamata denied permission for Modi's reception: BJP

A civic reception for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi planned by BJP at a stadium in Kolkata during his visit on April 9 has been denied permission by the Mamata Banerjee government, the party today alleged.

A civic reception for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi planned by BJP at a stadium in Kolkata during his visit on April 9 has been denied permission by the Mamata Banerjee government, the party alleged on Tuesday.

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The BJP claimed that in mid-March, it was told by authorities of government-run Netaji Indoor Stadium that the venue was available for the event but later on it was told that booking was not open on that date.

"We wanted to give a civic reception to Narendra Modi on April 9 at Netaji Indoor Stadium, but we were told that booking was not available on that date," state BJP spokesman Ritesh Tiwari said.

State party president Rahul Sinha wrote a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee requesting her to see that the stadium was made available for a civic reception programme for Modi who is a guest.

"But someone from CM's office informed us that the stadium could not be made available on that day since it was booked by a private party long back," Tiwari said adding that now the state BJP would hold a party workers' convention with Modi at Kolkata's Mahajati Sadan.

The meeting would be jointly organised by MCC Chamber of Commerce, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Bharat Chamber of Commerce.