ontroversial Kolkata cleric Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati has been booked for allegedly flouting the recent ban on red beacons. Barkati, who is Shahi Imam of Kolkata’s Tipu Sultan mosque, allegedly did not remove his red beacon from his official vehicle. An FIR was lodged against the cleric in Topsia police station following a complaint by a BJP leader, reported ANI.
Speaking with CNN-News18, the cleric had said that he will not stop using red beacon come what may. He also claimed that such a law could not be enforced. Later he gave a bizarre example to make his point. “I don’t think this even matters. It is pointless. There are red beacons everywhere, on top of planes, then why not cars?” Barkati told the channel.
He did not stop there and added,”West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has given him the permission to use red beacon and that Shahi Imam has been given the nod by the erstwhile British government. However, this is not the first time the cleric has made controversial remarks.
On Tuesday the Imam threatened to wage ‘jihad’ in the country if India is declared a ‘Hindu Rashtra’. “If namaz, azaan, Quran and Shariat law are banned then jihad will begin,” Imam Barkati said while speaking to reporters.
said that those Muslims who would support RSS and BJP would be ostracised from the community.
“As the Shahi Imam I declare that those Muslims who support RSS or BJP would be outcasted and if they try to put up a meeting or rally around this place I will beat them up myself,” Barkati had said at a press conference.
