Syed Md Nurur Rahman Barkati, the Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid in Kolkata, who had last week courted controversy after his fatwa against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has now blamed women dressing in "sexy manner" for causing rapes.

“One should take example from how the women of Rajasthan wear a veil on their face or the women of Punjab who wear a dupatta over their dresses. Present day women here go about in such a sexy manner that they become prey to men’s lust, he reportedly said.

He further went on to say that use of burqa will bring down the number of cases of violence against women.

Barkati, who had issued a fatwa against Modi, accusing him of bluffing people through demonetisation also issued another one against Muslims in the BJP.

"Today I issue a fatwa for Muslims in UP that in the forthcoming elections that not one Muslim votes should be cast in favour of BJP or RSS. You may vote for any other party other than the BJP. And also for the Muslims who are in BJP, I expel them from Islam today through my fatwa,” he said.