KOLKATA: Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque in Kolkata, Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati, known for his closeness to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has issued a fatwa against state BJP president Dileep Ghosh, saying he should be ‘stone-pelted out of Bengal’.
Speaking at a presser here, the Muslim cleric said: “I issued the fatwa which states that he should be pelted with stones and then kicked out of Bengal. He does not deserve to stay in Bengal.” He was reacting to Ghosh’s comments on Mamata where Ghosh said BJP workers could have dragged Mamata by her hair in Delhi for criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi on demonetisation.
“From where does he get such audacity to make filthy comments against our beloved chief minister who is the most secular leader of our country?,” Barkati questioned. Dismissing the fatwa, Dileep Ghosh said: “Is this Bangladesh or Pakistan that he can issue a fatwa against me? He can issue a fatwa against TMC, they will listen to him, but not the BJP.
It seems that Barkati no longer wishes to stay in Bengal or India.” Meanwhile, an FIR was lodged against Ghosh in Jhargram PS limits where a former BJP party worker alleged that when he protested against comments on Mamata Banerjee, he was threatened with country-made guns by Dileep aides.
The BJP leader, however, has sought apology after Trinamool Congress MLAs created a ruckus in the state Assembly on Tuesday with regards to his comments on the TMC supremo.