Babri-style mosque plan sparks political fire in Murshidabad

A controversial Babri Masjid-styled foundation ceremony for a mosque took place in Murshidabad, drawing thousands and igniting political tensions on the anniversary of the 1992 demolition. The event, organized by suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir, occurred in Beldanga with heavy security and proceeded without clashes. About 400 attendees gathered on a two-tier stage set nearly a kilometer from the proposed site, where two clerics claimed to hail from Saudi Arabia and a ceremonial ribbon was cut amid chants of Nara-e-Takbeer and Allahu Akbar. The organizer framed the project as an emotional restitution for the Babri Masjid demolition, insisting that building a place of worship remains a constitutional right. Kabir’s remarks were punctuated by bold numbers—claiming 40 crore Muslims nationally and four crore in the state—to defend the plan and bolster support for the foundation.

The scale of the operation seeped into local commerce. A brick kiln owner reported selling 32,000 bricks at Rs 10 each, earning over Rs 3 lakh, while seven catering agencies prepared biryani for as many as 30,000 people. A Kabir aide said food costs alone reached Rs 30 lakh and the total budget surpassed Rs 70 lakh. Donation boxes were circulated and a State Bank of India account with a QR code in the name of the “West Bengal Islamic Foundation of India” was announced, signaling formal fundraising activities beyond religious rites.

Reaction from political parties was swift. The Trinamool Congress distanced itself, with a party spokesman noting that people have a right to build religious structures on private land, but warning against using such events to spread religious venom for political gain. The Bharatiya Janata Party fired back, accusing the event of being a political ploy designed to inflame emotions and consolidate vote banks. Senior BJP voices, including Amit Malviya and a former Bengal BJP chief, Dilip Ghosh, questioned the motives of the TMC for stoking communal tensions instead of public service.

The episode arrived on a date steeped in communal sensitivities and prompted heightened security measures, reflecting the broader national debate over religious symbols, political mobilization, and the balance between faith and politics in West Bengal. Anticipation remains as authorities monitor the aftermath and the potential for further political reactions across the state.

Cover image source: Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir pushes ahead with ‘Babri-style’ mosque plan 🔗

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