In January 2017, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a fatwa from Barkati for demonetising 500 and 1000 rupees bank notes. He offered an amount of 25 lakh rupees to someone who would "cut off PM Narendra Modi's beard, shave his head and smear him with black ink". His activity drew criticism with ruling Trinamool Congress MLA Siddiqullah Chowdhury saying that it showed Barkati's immaturity. Jamaat-e-Islami West Bengal secretary Muhammad Nooruddin said that his comments would damage the reputation of Muslims. Former Bharatiya Janata Party state president Rahul Sinha said India was not a place for "fatwa"s.