Kolkata: Calcutta HC on Tuesday denied permission to both the Mamata Banerjee-led and Ritabrata Banerjee-led factions of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad to observe the student wing’s foundation day on Aug 28 at Mayo Road, instead allotting them separate venues.The Mamata faction has been given a flank of Cathedral Road and the Ritabrata faction a stretch of Rani Rashmoni Road. Both events must be held between noon and 3pm, with attendance capped at 1,500 each. Each faction must provide contact numbers of 15 volunteers to coordinate with police.Two petitions were filed by two individuals each claiming to be TMCP president. The Mamata camp said it had applied for the Mayo Road venue on July 27 with reminders on Aug 3 and 4, but was denied.The Ritabrata camp had also sought Mayo Road and was similarly refused. Both were asked by police to hold the events indoors. The Ritabrata faction also placed before the court a civil court order restraining the Mamata faction from filing cases as Trinamool.Advocate general Surajit Nath Mitra opposed both outdoor prayers and suggested indoor venues.Justice Saugata Bhattacharya declined to rule on which faction was the “real Trinamool”. “If both of you are agreeable to convene the programme jointly, I will allow it to be held at Mayo Road,” he said.On the indoor suggestion, he said: “We are not political people. We don’t understand the essence of open-air programmes. But open-air programmes have a different flavour, I have heard.”
