Vadodara, December 6: A controversial board was put up outside a mosque in Gujarat's Vadodara, "barring" the entry of a Muslim BJP leader in the region. The matter was brought to notice of the police on Thursday, which has initiated a probe to find out whether the board was put by miscreants, or through order of the trustees.

The incident was reported in Yakutpura area, where a board, hung at the gate of a prominent mosque, reads: "Zakir Qureshi should not enter by trustees' order". Amit Shah Says, BJP will Not Allow Reservation for Minorities.

Qureshi, who is the general secretary of BJP's Vadodara unit minority cell, has raised doubts against a section of local Muslims who are opposed to his association with the saffron party.

While speaking to reporters, Qureshi said he was criticized by some of city's Muslims for attending a meeting of Muslim leaders convened by the BJP to find an amicable solution to the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute.

Police commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut said the incident has been taken seriously, and a probe is being conducted into it. Meanwhile, the mosque trustees have denied issuing any order banning the entry of Qureshi.

Locals in Vadodara claim Muslims in the city are aggrieved against the BJP -- whom they accuse of polarising the people to reap dividends ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year.

Despite ruling for 25 years in the state, the BJP has failed to make forays into the Muslim pockets of Gujarat. The adverse relation which the party shares with the minority community was reflected when no Muslim candidate was fielded by the party in the 2017 assembly elections.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 06, 2018 09:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).