Jamiat chief to offer namaz at Kolkata airport mosque, warns of peaceful protest
Siddiqullah Chowdhury said he and local residents will visit Kolkata airport's Bankra Mosque on Friday to offer prayers. The planned visit comes amid a dispute over suspended access, proposed relocation and the lack of prior notice.
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind West Bengal president Siddiqullah Chowdhury has announced that he and local residents will visit the mosque located inside Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Friday to offer prayers, amid the ongoing dispute over access to the place of worship.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Chowdhury said the group would reach the airport around 11.30 am and would hold a peaceful protest only if they were prevented from offering prayers. He repeatedly stressed that there would be no road blockade, sloganeering, use of loudspeakers or attempts to forcibly enter the mosque.
"We will go to offer namaz and pray to Allah. If we are stopped, our protest will remain peaceful. There will be no microphone, no demonstration, no force and no disturbance," he said.
MOSQUE PRAYER SUSPENSION ROW
The controversy centres on the Bankra Mosque located within the airport premises. Prayers have reportedly remained suspended at the mosque since last week after airport authorities restricted access to the site, citing repair work on the approach road.
According to the BJP-led central government, the mosque is proposed to be relocated as part of the airport's expansion plans and to address security requirements. However, Chowdhury alleged that worshippers were denied access without prior consultation or formal notice.
During the press conference, he displayed documents that he claimed were issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), saying they authorised religious activities, including prayers and iftar gatherings during Ramzan, at the mosque.
Chowdhury maintained that the organisation would pursue only legal means to resolve the issue. He said Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had never violated the law and would continue to act peacefully.
He also criticised the authorities for allegedly failing to communicate with the mosque committee before restricting access. "If development work is being carried out, a notice could have been issued. We have been dealing with the airport authorities for nearly 24 years. There should have been dialogue instead of abruptly closing access," he said.
On the issue of relocation, Chowdhury said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the central government. He added that if relocation is required, discussions should be held with the central leadership of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and Darul Uloom Deoband to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution.
Airport authorities have not yet issued a fresh statement on the proposed prayer gathering.
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind West Bengal president Siddiqullah Chowdhury has announced that he and local residents will visit the mosque located inside Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Friday to offer prayers, amid the ongoing dispute over access to the place of worship.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Chowdhury said the group would reach the airport around 11.30 am and would hold a peaceful protest only if they were prevented from offering prayers. He repeatedly stressed that there would be no road blockade, sloganeering, use of loudspeakers or attempts to forcibly enter the mosque.
"We will go to offer namaz and pray to Allah. If we are stopped, our protest will remain peaceful. There will be no microphone, no demonstration, no force and no disturbance," he said.
MOSQUE PRAYER SUSPENSION ROW
The controversy centres on the Bankra Mosque located within the airport premises. Prayers have reportedly remained suspended at the mosque since last week after airport authorities restricted access to the site, citing repair work on the approach road.
According to the BJP-led central government, the mosque is proposed to be relocated as part of the airport's expansion plans and to address security requirements. However, Chowdhury alleged that worshippers were denied access without prior consultation or formal notice.
During the press conference, he displayed documents that he claimed were issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), saying they authorised religious activities, including prayers and iftar gatherings during Ramzan, at the mosque.
Chowdhury maintained that the organisation would pursue only legal means to resolve the issue. He said Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had never violated the law and would continue to act peacefully.
He also criticised the authorities for allegedly failing to communicate with the mosque committee before restricting access. "If development work is being carried out, a notice could have been issued. We have been dealing with the airport authorities for nearly 24 years. There should have been dialogue instead of abruptly closing access," he said.
On the issue of relocation, Chowdhury said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the central government. He added that if relocation is required, discussions should be held with the central leadership of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and Darul Uloom Deoband to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution.
Airport authorities have not yet issued a fresh statement on the proposed prayer gathering.
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind West Bengal president Siddiqullah Chowdhury has announced that he and local residents will visit the mosque located inside Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Friday to offer prayers, amid the ongoing dispute over access to the place of worship.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Chowdhury said the group would reach the airport around 11.30 am and would hold a peaceful protest only if they were prevented from offering prayers. He repeatedly stressed that there would be no road blockade, sloganeering, use of loudspeakers or attempts to forcibly enter the mosque.
"We will go to offer namaz and pray to Allah. If we are stopped, our protest will remain peaceful. There will be no microphone, no demonstration, no force and no disturbance," he said.
MOSQUE PRAYER SUSPENSION ROW
The controversy centres on the Bankra Mosque located within the airport premises. Prayers have reportedly remained suspended at the mosque since last week after airport authorities restricted access to the site, citing repair work on the approach road.
According to the BJP-led central government, the mosque is proposed to be relocated as part of the airport's expansion plans and to address security requirements. However, Chowdhury alleged that worshippers were denied access without prior consultation or formal notice.
During the press conference, he displayed documents that he claimed were issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), saying they authorised religious activities, including prayers and iftar gatherings during Ramzan, at the mosque.
Chowdhury maintained that the organisation would pursue only legal means to resolve the issue. He said Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had never violated the law and would continue to act peacefully.
He also criticised the authorities for allegedly failing to communicate with the mosque committee before restricting access. "If development work is being carried out, a notice could have been issued. We have been dealing with the airport authorities for nearly 24 years. There should have been dialogue instead of abruptly closing access," he said.
On the issue of relocation, Chowdhury said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the central government. He added that if relocation is required, discussions should be held with the central leadership of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and Darul Uloom Deoband to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution.
Airport authorities have not yet issued a fresh statement on the proposed prayer gathering.
