Source India Today
Murshidabad, West Bengal – Amidst tight security and escalating political tensions, suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir laid the foundation stone for a mosque described as being “Babri Masjid-style” in the communally sensitive Murshidabad district of West Bengal on Saturday. The controversial event, strategically timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, drew thousands of attendees and featured a massive biryani feast, with organizers claiming the presence of two clerics from Saudi Arabia.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held in Beldanga, followed Kabir’s recent suspension from the TMC for what the party termed “communal politics.” Despite the censure, the event proceeded with immense spectacle and security.
Scale of the Ceremony
International Presence: Kabir’s team confirmed that two Qazis (Islamic judges/scholars) from Saudi Arabia arrived in a special convoy to participate in the ceremony, lending an international dimension to the highly localized political row.
Grand Feast: Seven catering agencies were reportedly hired to prepare Shahi Biryani for an enormous crowd. Organizers stated that over 40,000 food packets were arranged for visitors, pushing the food budget alone past ₹30 lakh.
Heavy Security: Murshidabad was transformed into a high-security zone, with large contingents of the police, RAF (Rapid Action Force), and central forces deployed around the venue and the nearby National Highway-12 to maintain order. The Calcutta High Court had earlier declined to halt the event but placed the full responsibility for maintaining law and order on the state government.
Political Defiance and Controversy
The event, which began with Quran recitation followed by the foundation-stone laying at noon, was framed by Kabir as both a religious endeavor and an emotional redress. “Thirty-three years ago, a deep wound was inflicted on the hearts of Muslims. Today, we are applying a small balm to that wound,” Kabir told the gathered crowd. He struck a defiant tone, asserting, “I am doing nothing unconstitutional. Building a place of worship is a constitutional right. Babri Masjid will be built.”
The Trinamool Congress has sought to distance itself from the proceedings, citing Kabir’s suspension earlier in the week. However, Opposition parties, particularly the BJP, have accused the TMC of covertly encouraging religious polarisation ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, claiming Kabir is acting on a “script” prepared by the ruling party.
Kabir, an MLA known for his turbulent political career with stints in the Congress and the BJP before joining the TMC, asserted that the police and administration were cooperating fully to ensure a peaceful ceremony.
The grand scale and symbolic timing of the event have firmly placed the foundation-laying ceremony at the centre of West Bengal’s political debate, testing the communal resilience of the district.
