Murshidabad, West Bengal – A significant political storm has erupted in West Bengal following an "open challenge" issued by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir to the state administration regarding his plan to lay the foundation stone for a "Babri Masjid" on December 6 in Beldanga, Murshidabad district. The date coincides with the 33rd anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, a highly sensitive event in Indian history.
Kabir's announcement has drawn sharp reactions from various political parties, religious leaders, and social activists. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly condemned the move, accusing the TMC of deliberately stoking religious tensions and engaging in vote-bank politics ahead of upcoming elections. BJP leaders have alleged that Kabir's actions are an attempt to polarize the people and turn West Bengal into "West Bangladesh". Shahnawaz Hussain, a prominent BJP leader, stated that the foundation stone laying would mark the beginning of the "Mamata government's collapse".
Religious leaders have also expressed outrage. Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya of Ayodhya has demanded Kabir's immediate arrest and the filing of sedition charges against him. Acharya went so far as to announce a reward of ₹1 crore for anyone who "kills" the TMC MLA, warning that any attempt to lay a brick in the name of Mughal invaders would not be tolerated. Ram Janmabhoomi Trust member Ram Vilas Vedanti echoed these sentiments, stating that no power in the world could build another Babri Masjid in India.
The TMC leadership has distanced itself from Kabir's remarks, but has not officially commented on the issue. This silence has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who accuse the TMC of tacitly supporting Kabir's actions to appease Muslim voters. However, Kabir defended his stance, stating that the issue is "emotional" for Muslims and that he was not making the claim for electoral gains. He has challenged the state government, arguing that if providing honorariums to Durga Puja clubs and holding carnivals is constitutional, then constructing a mosque cannot be unconstitutional.
Congress leaders have expressed mixed reactions to Kabir's announcement. Some leaders questioned the need for a Babri replica, while others defended the right to build places of worship. CPI(M) State General Secretary V Srinivas Rao criticized the announcement on constitutional grounds, arguing that governments should remain secular and not be involved in building religious structures.
The controversy has ignited a debate about secularism, religious freedom, and the role of the government in religious affairs. It has also raised concerns about potential social unrest and the exploitation of religious sentiments for political gain. With the planned foundation stone laying ceremony scheduled for December 6, tensions remain high in Murshidabad district, a communally sensitive area that has witnessed clashes in the past. The administration faces a delicate situation in maintaining law and order while respecting religious sentiments and upholding the principles of secularism.
