Controversial cleric Barkati refuses to quit as Shahi Imam, says nobody has right to remove him

Kolkata: Kolkata cleric Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati, who was earlier sacked from his position as Imam of Kolkata's Tipu Sultan mosque by the trustee board, stirred another controversy when he refused to go with the order saying he has the backing of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 

"I will talk to Mamata Banerjee," Barkati said.

A police complaint was lodged against Barkati, who had recently threatened jihad against the country over 'lal batti' and refused to take off the red beacon from his vehicle - by the mosque's trustee board.

"We have lodged a police complaint against the serving Imam, Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati in Bowbazar police station for forcefully snatching away the keys of the mosque's official room," head of the Board, Anwar Ali Shah said.

Barkati had refused to remove a red beacon from his vehicle despite the central government ban on its use.

"No one has the guts to remove my red beacon. It's been with us for hundreds of years. It is the RSS which is illegal, Modi is illegal not the red light on my car. Don't try disturbing Muslims in Bengal," Barkati was quoted as saying by India Today.

Multiple police complaints have been filed against him in the past for illegally using the red beacon and making hate speeches. Barkati had also issued a fatwa against the prime minister.