BJP blames Madrassas as hub of suspected religious ultras

Kolkata, Aug 12 (UNI) Taking a cue from the chief minister's reported remarks that most madrassas in border districts could be extremist hub, the BJP in West Bengal today demanded immediate steps to flush out suspects following increasing terrorist threat.

BJP state general secretary Rahul Sinha said the party had been expressing similar apprehension for the past few years on the basis of definite information. However, the state government did not pay any heed, he added.

''As a result. some of these madrassas have become the safest transit hub for extremists from across the Indo-Bangladesh border, thereby creating a dangerous situation in the state,'' Mr Sinha said.

Also questioning the source of funds for building large number of mosques in all the state's border districts with Bangladesh during the past few years, Mr Sinha demanded a CBI inquiry.

''It will be wrong to believe that we are against the building of mosques and spread of Muslim religion in West Bengal,'' he said. The BJP was only questioning the source of huge funds used for constructing these sophisticated mosques even in backward areas, he added.

He also urged members of the minority community, particularly those livinig near the Indo-Bangladesh border, to cooperate with the state administration in identifying suspected movement of anyone in the locality to remove the growing aspertion on their community.

Mr Sinha was also critical about the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the ruling Left Front in effectively dealing with the growing menace of religious extremism, particularly in the backdrop of intelligence reports that the state was being used as a safe transit point by both Pakistani and Bangladeshi terrorist organisations.

UNI ABA PL/SRC AK VV1731