Imam no more: Tipu Sultan Mosque board sacks Syed Barkati

The board of trustees at the Tipu Sultan Masjid in Kolkata have decided to remove Masjid Syed Md Nurur Rahman Barkati as the Shahi Imam of the mosque, it was decided on Tuesday. Barkati off late stirred up a number of controversies, including issuing a fatwa to all Muslims who supported the BJP.

 “He had been appointed by my recommendation to the board and now I have strongly recommended for his removal and I believe the board will remove him on Wednesday following a formal announcement of the decision at a press conference, subject to the final decision of the board,” said Shazada Anwar Ali, the caretaker of the masjid’s board of trustee, while speaking to DNA on Tuesday.

The board had expressed dissatisfaction with the way Barkati was discharging his duty. “It’s not because of political or religious reasons,” he added.

However, sources in the board confirmed that Barkati’s controversial remarks in the past, including making anti-national statement and using the mosque’s premises to conduct press conferences favouring a particular political party, were the reasons for his ouster. “Barkati had not led the prayers for any king. He has misused the term ‘Shahi Imam’,” said a senior member of the board, further alleging that Barkati had used the mosque’s premises to marry off couples for his monetary gains.

A police complaint has been lodged against Barkati and others on Monday by Farah Khan, wife of Nadimul Haque, editor of an Urdu daily and Rajya Sabha member alleging that about 30 armed men had barged into their office and threatened them with dire consequences if they continued to print reports against Barkati.

Sources at Nabanna, the state secretariat also said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was not very happy with the way Barkati used her name to indicate that he was under her patronisation.