Kolkata, Jan 4 (IANS): Uttar Pradesh minister S.P. Singh Baghel said on Friday that Mamata Banerjee government's attempts to deter BJP's 'Rath-Yatra' rallies in West Bengal showed that the ruling party was scared of the saffron outfit's growing popularity in the state.

Stating that the matter should not have gone to the Supreme Court, the BJP leader said the Bengal government should have allowed the rallies by making suitable law and order arrangements.

"When the permission for the rally (Rath-Yatra) was sought by the state BJP leadership, the Bengal government should have asked them to hold the programme by following the necessary restrictions," Baghel, who is Animal Husbandry Minister, said here on the sidelines of a programme for promoting the upcoming Kumbh Mela in his state.

"Maintaining law and order is a state subject. Not giving permission to the Rath-Yatra rallies shows the state government is scared that the magnitude of the rally will be so huge that the Bengal police will not be able to handle it. It is a proof of BJP's increasing popularity in the state," the BJP leader said.