West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has backed a ban on public entry to the Bankra mosque located inside Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport [1].
The restriction pits state security priorities against religious freedom, sparking protests from Islamic leadership and necessitating a police presence at the site [2].
The Bankra mosque is 136 years old [2]. Because the structure is situated within the premises of the airport, the state government has barred the general public from entering the facility [1].
Suvendu Adhikari said, "National security comes first" [1]. He said that the restrictions are necessary to maintain the safety and integrity of the aviation hub, a move the state government continues to support.
However, the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind has opposed the ban. The organization said the move was an outrage and specifically raised concerns regarding the relocation of the mosque [2].
Protesters have marked their opposition by wearing black armbands [2]. In response to the rising tensions and the potential for unrest, local authorities have deployed police to the area surrounding the airport and the mosque [1].
The dispute centers on the balance between the historical and religious status of the mosque and the modern security requirements of a major international airport [1], [2].
“"National security comes first"”
This conflict highlights the tension between urban infrastructure expansion and the preservation of historical religious sites in India. By prioritizing airport security over public access to a century-old place of worship, the West Bengal government is testing the legal and social boundaries of 'national security' designations in the face of organized religious protest.
