National security is supreme, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari underlined, as his government firmed up its stand on the emerging controversy over the suspension of entry passes for congregational prayers at a mosque inside Kolkata airport.

The 136-year-old Gauripur Jama Masjid, also known as the ‘Bankra Masjid’, is located within Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport. There has been talk of relocating the mosque for a long time. Dum Dum Airport has two runways – the main runway is used for takeoffs and landings, while the second runway is smaller. The mosque is located at a short distance from that runway.

Experts say that if the first runway is temporarily closed for maintenance, there will be problems with large aircraft taking off and landing. Airport officials said that the mosque also poses a risk to aircraft taking off and landing, and that work on expanding the second runway has also been stalled.