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The ban on offering namaz in the 136-year-old Bankra Masjid (Gauripur Jama Masjid) located in the Kolkata Airport complex has created a stir in the politics of West Bengal. Since the indefinite ban on prayers in the mosque since Saturday, the opposition party TMC has been attacking by linking it to religious sentiments. However, on Monday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari himself visited the airport and gave a strong message clarifying the government’s stand on this controversy.

National security is paramount

The Chief Minister clearly said that there cannot be any compromise on security at a highly sensitive place like the airport. He said, “National security is paramount and the doors of a sensitive place like the airport cannot remain open to outsiders.” Describing the location of Kolkata Airport as very important, the CM said that in view of the proximity of the borders of China and Bangladesh, strict security arrangements are necessary here. He made it clear that as a Chief Minister, airport security is more important than anything else for him.

‘Religion is a personal matter, follow the law’

Rejecting the allegations of appeasement of the opposition, the CM said that his government does not interfere in anyone’s religious customs. Giving examples, he said that festivals like Bakrid and Muharram were completed peacefully. The CM advised that religion is a personal matter, practice it peacefully and follow the law like a good citizen without impacting others. He bluntly said that the era of ‘appeasement politics’ is now over.

Government’s big plan on shifting the mosque

Union Minister Sukant Majumdar has made the government’s intention clear on this issue. He said that the only solution is to shift the mosque to another place so that the airport runway can be expanded and security obstacles can be removed. Accusing the previous governments of appeasement, Majumdar said that the expansion of the runway was stalled for years due to this reason. Now the government will start the process of shifting this mosque to another place.

What is the root of the dispute?

This mosque is said to be older than the construction of the airport, which is located just 165 meters away from the second runway. The airport administration argues that the mosque is causing problems in flight operations and creating technical obstacles in installing the Advanced Instrument Landing System (ILS). On the other hand, TMC MP Saugata Roy opposed it and said that no such decision should be taken without the consent of the Muslim community. At present, the government is firm on its decision to shift it citing security reasons.