Red beacon removed from Imam Barkati's car, Bengal Min slams him for making anti-national statements

According to local media reports, Maulana Barkati was using red beacon on his car when the Central government's ban on lal batti has come into effect since May 1.

Days ago, Imam Barkati refused to give lal batti up from his vehicle and said that he would use it in future.

"West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave me permission to use red beacon on my car and it's a heritage practice as erstwhile British government gave permission to my ancestors to use lal batti," Barkati told reporters.

"I won't accept Central government's ban on lal batti," he said.

Earlier on Friday, at least two complaints were lodged against Barkati at different police stations in Kolkata and its adjoining Hooghly district and after being directed by state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the city police officials on Saturday morning detached the red beacon from his vehicle, sources said.

Meanwhile, cabinet minister and the state secretary of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, Siddiqullah Chowdhury, on Saturday hit out at Barkati over his alleged anti-national remarks.

"I don't support Imam Barkati's anti-India remarks, those are highly condemnable. He neither has right nor permission to use lal batti on his car," Siddiqullah Chowdhury said, during a press conference here at Kolkata Press Club.

"If Barkati wants to fight for Pakistan, then he can leave India and stay happily there in Pakistan. Nobody will stop him," Chowdhury added.

Days ago, Barkati told reporters that he would not remove red beacon from his vehicle and nobody has the guts to arrest him.

Attacking the BJP and RSS, Barkati said, "If they (BJP & RSS) are trying to make India a Hindu country, then why would not India be a Muslim country when there are more than 30 crore Muslims in India."

"If RSS has plans to make India a Hindu country, we will protest and fight against it. Then give us Pakistan, we will fight for Pakistan," Barkati further said, going a step ahead.

Meanwhile, supporters of Siddiqullah Chowdhury and Maulana Barkati reportedly engaged in a verbal clash and scuffled with each other in front of Tipu Sultan Mosque in Kolkata's downtown Esplanade area on Saturday evening when Siddiqullah's followers shouted 'Go back Barkati' slogans.

Following the incident, a heavy police force rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

However, according to the latest update, Barkati has lodged a complaint against Siddiqullah Chowdhury and his Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind at Bowbazar Police Station.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)