BJP govt denies Muslims entry to 136-yr-old mosque in West Bengal
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Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has defended the decision to bar outsiders from offering prayers at the 136-year-old Gauripur Jama Masjid located inside Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, insisting that national security and airport safety take precedence over all other considerations.
Speaking to reporters in Tamluk, the Chief Minister backed the airport authorities' decision to suspend prayers at the mosque for three days from Saturday, citing renovation work. The mosque is situated near the airport's secondary runway. Authorities maintain that its location affects airport operations and poses a security risk.
The administration has also argued that unrestricted access to the mosque, located within the airport's high-security Level-3 zone, without biometric passes or prior security clearance constitutes a serious security lapse. Dum Dum Uttar MLA Saurav Sikdar echoed these concerns, saying unrestricted public entry into such a sensitive area was unacceptable.
However, the mosque committee has strongly objected to the move. Committee president and former minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury alleged that access was blocked without prior notice and despite ongoing discussions with the authorities. While the committee has sought the restoration of prayer rights, citing the mosque's historical significance, the Chief Minister has remained firm in supporting the restrictions on security grounds.
