Kolkata: Defying Kolkata High Court's order banning rallies and processions between 8.00 am and 8.00 pm on weekdays in Kolkata, West Bengal's ruling Left Front (LF) on October 4 directed all its mass organisations to protest against the ruling by organising processions 'where and when' possible.

"Since the Vacation Bench directed that appeal against the ruling could be filed only before a regular Bench which sits from October 28, we have directed our mass organisations to hold protests in the meantime and organise processions where and when possible," Front chairman Biman Bose said.

Bose was talking to reporters after the LF's emergency meeting to discuss strategy since a Division Bench on October 2 refused to stay the September 29 order of a single Bench banning rallies and processions.

Asked whether holding processions before October 28 would not amount to contempt, Bose said, "if it be so, let it be so".

In reply to a question, he said that the Front would not contest the matter in court. "It is up to the government to do the needful. We have told our mass bodies to submit memoranda to the Chief Minister so that the government moves the Supreme Court on the matter."

As its first step of protest, the Front would organise a convention at the Mahajati Sadan in Kolkata on October 8, Bose said, adding that mass organisations would be 'free to come in processions' to the venue.

Subsequently, a bigger convention with people from all walks of life would be organised, he said, hinting that the Opposition parties could also be involved if they agreed.

PTI