BJP Wants Imam Arrested for Issuing ‘Fatwa’ Against PM

An Imam from Kolkata issued a ‘fatwa’ against PM Modi, accusing him of ‘bluffing’ people through demonetisation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Photo: PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal has lodged a police complaint against an Imam of Kolkata for issuing a fatwa against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded his immediate arrest.

Syed Mohammad Nurur Rahman Barkati, the Shahi Imam of Kolkata's Tipu Sultan Masjid, on Saturday issued a fatwa against the Prime Minister, accusing him of 'bluffing' people through demonetisation, evoking a sharp reaction from the BJP, which demanded his arrest.

We want him to be arrested and put behind bars. This is not only an insult to the Prime Minister, but also to the people of this country. We will go for a legal action against him.

Dilip Ghosh, BJP State President told PTI

BJP State Secretary Ritesh Tiwari had lodged a police complaint at Jorasakho police station and demanded action against him.

I have lodged a police complaint and urged police authorities to treat it as an FIR. You can’t just say anything you want against the Prime Minister of our country.

Ritesh Tiwari, BJP State Secretary

Barkati on Saturday said during a joint conference by the All India Majlis-e-Sura and All India Minority Forum in Kolkata:

Everyday people are harassed and facing problem due to demonetisation. Modi is bluffing the society and the innocent people of the country through demonetisation and nobody wants him to continue as the Prime Minister.

BJP National Secretary Sidharth Nath Singh, who is in-charge of party's West Bengal affairs, said in Delhi:

We demand that Mamata Banerjee immediately order his arrest. The <i>fatwa</i> against our Prime Minister is highly condemnable. TMC MP Idris Ali was sitting next to him when he issued the <i>fatwa</i>.

Last year Barkati had issued a fatwa against BJP State President Dilip Ghosh for his comments against Banerjee.