Welcoming the sacking of Maulana Noor-ur-Rehman Barkati from the post of Shahi Imam of Kolkata's Tipu Sultan mosque, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday said such people who speak anti-India statements should be thrown out of the country.

Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Rahul Sinha said, "These kinds of people should be thrown out of the country. Such persons, who raised pro-Pakistan slogans, doesn't have the authority to be the Imam. He should be sent to Pakistan. I welcome his sacking."

Expressing similar views, West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Gosh said, "It is unfortunate since Imam is a religious figure. I have been reiterating that the reason he is courageous enough to say anti-India remarks because of the fact that Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) was protecting him. He is a vote catcher. He should have sacked earlier."

On Wednesday, the trustees of Tipu Sultan mosque sacked Barkati for his 'objectionable and inflammatory remarks against the country'.

Barkati is infamous for issuing fatwa against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defying Centre' order on the use of red beacon. -- ANI