VHP President Alok Kumar Condemns 'Babri Masjid' Construction in West Bengal
In a strong statement on Thursday, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Alok Kumar denounced the initiation of construction for a controversial mosque named 'Babri Majid' in Murshidabad district, West Bengal. Kumar asserted that this move, led by suspended Trinamool Congress MLA and Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir, represents "a challenge thrown at the entire Hindu community" and risks inciting communal discord.
Allegations of Provocative Threats and Calls for Government Action
Kumar revealed disturbing claims, stating that supporters of the mosque construction have allegedly threatened beheading and playing football with the heads of anyone opposing the project. "Obviously, the intention is to create disharmony and hatred between the two communities and incite riots," he told TOI. Despite these tensions, Kumar noted that Kabir's suspension from the TMC indicates a shared understanding with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The VHP has made two key appeals to the Mamata government:
- Register an FIR against those behind the construction of the Babri masjid.
- Persuade them to avoid naming the mosque as such to prevent further controversy.
"That's the extent we would like to go as of now," Kumar emphasized, highlighting the organization's current stance on the issue.
Background of the Mosque Construction and Historical Context
Humayun Kabir laid the foundation stone for the mosque on December 6 last year, coinciding with the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya. Kabir described the project as a "tribute to Muslim sentiment" and a constitutional right. The mosque, funded from regions including Bangladesh and the Middle East, is slated for completion in two years on an 11-acre site in Beldanga, Murshidabad.
A senior VHP functionary referenced the Ram Janambhoomi movement of the early 1990s, recalling a resolve by seers: "Mandir wahin, masjid nahin, Babri kahin nahin…" (The temple there, no mosque, Babri nowhere else). The leader affirmed that the VHP will oppose tooth and nail the construction of the Babri Mosque in Murshidabad, adhering to this historical stance.
VHP's Stance on Ayodhya Mosque and Supreme Court Verdict
In related developments, the VHP has also opposed the construction of a proposed new mosque in Ayodhya, arguing that such religious sites should be developed "outside Ayodhya." However, the Supreme Court dismissed the VHP's appeal, a decision Kumar stated they respect and accept. The planned mosque complex in Ayodhya, officially named the Mohammad Bin Abdullah Masjid, is located in Dhannipur village, about 25 km from the original Babri Masjid site.
Following the 2019 Supreme Court verdict, a 5-acre site was allotted to the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board, with construction expected to begin around April this year. Managed by the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF), the project will include a hospital, library, and research centre, aiming to foster community development alongside religious purposes.
