Kolkata airport authorities have indefinitely stopped entry to the Bankra mosque
KOLKATA: Entry to the 136-year-old Bankra mosque, located within the operational area of Kolkata airport, has been stopped indefinitely, airport authorities said on Sunday, citing security concerns over allowing access solely on the basis of Aadhaar cards .
“The repair is complete but permission to offer namaz at the mosque cannot be granted at present because of security concerns raised by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS),” a senior Kolkata airport official said. They had added that devotees would be allowed to offer prayers from Monday if the repair was completed on schedule. On Saturday, authorities had said access to the Gouripur Jame Masjid would remain suspended for two days as rain had damaged the approach road, necessitating urgent repairs.
Because of appeasement politics, union minister Sukanta Majumdar said on Sunday, “Earlier, no govt took any action. Airport officials said they were awaiting fresh instructions on whether a new pass system would be introduced or whether public access to the mosque would be stopped permanently.
Former minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury, also the president of the West Bengal unit of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, one of the stakeholders of the mosque, said he had written to the airport director seeking clarity on when devotees would be allowed to resume prayers. BCAS recently wrote to the airport authorities questioning the practice of allowing access solely on the basis of Aadhaar cards. Our govt does not believe in it. What is the big issue if the mosque is shifted?”
Members of the community were also scheduled to meet on Sunday evening to decide their next course of action.