In a development set to intensify communal fault lines, a political storm is brewing in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, approximately 800 kilometers from Ayodhya. The trigger is a plan by a ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator to lay the foundation stone for a replica of the Babri Masjid, met with counter-announcements for the construction of two Ram Temple replicas by Hindu groups.
MLA's Mosque Plan and the December 6 Date
At the heart of the controversy is TMC Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir, who is also the secretary of the newly formed West Bengal Islamic Foundation of India. Kabir has announced his intention to lay the foundation stone for a smaller-scale replica of the Babri Masjid in the Beldanga block on December 6. This date marks the 33rd anniversary of the demolition of the original mosque in Ayodhya in 1992.
Despite facing setbacks, including alleged pressure on potential land donors from the police and administration, Kabir remains resolute. "Come what may, I will build the Babri Mosque here," he asserted. He claims a positive response from across the state and envisions the mosque complex to also include a 200-bed hospital and a five-storey guest house, a project he estimates will take three years to complete.
Hindu Groups Announce Counter Temple Projects
In direct response to Kabir's move, two separate Hindu initiatives have emerged, both aiming to construct replicas of the newly built Ram Mandir in Ayodhya within Murshidabad district.
Sakharab Sarkar, the former BJP president of Murshidabad, declared he would perform a Bhumi Pujan (groundbreaking ceremony) for a Ram Temple on the same date, December 6. While keeping the exact location confidential to avoid "roadblocks" from the ruling TMC, he confirmed it would be in Baharampur town and a smaller version of the Ayodhya temple.
Parallelly, the Bongiyo Ram Sevak Parishad Charitable Trust has already held a groundbreaking ceremony for another Ram Mandir replica in Alankar village of the Sagardighi Assembly constituency on January 22. The trust plans a complex housing temples dedicated to Lord Ram, Lord Shiva, and Hanuman.
Political Reactions and Accusations of Polarization
The issue has drawn sharp reactions from across the political spectrum, with elections looming in the state. The Congress, through former MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, accused the TMC of tacit support through its silence, claiming the party seeks communal polarization.
While the TMC has officially distanced itself from Kabir's actions, Left leaders blamed both the TMC and the BJP for diverting from substantive issues like employment and health. Sujan Chakraborty, a CPI(M) central committee member, accused them of dividing people on religious lines.
BJP leaders, including former state president Rahul Sinha, argued that Kabir's actions were deliberately provocative. He noted, however, that local Muslims were resisting Kabir's communal designs by refusing to provide land. Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti advised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to take action against those planning a mosque in Babur's name to protect harmony.
Adding another dimension, Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Naushad Siddiqui pointed out that the debate had shifted focus to the government's failure in building adequate universities and hospitals in Murshidabad.
Electoral Context and District Demographics
The controversy unfolds in a communally sensitive border district that witnessed tension in Beldanga in November 2024. It gains further significance amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a point of contention between the state government and the Election Commission. Murshidabad has seen an 87.65% rise in the number of voters since 2002, a trend mirrored in other border districts, making it a critical electoral battleground.
With Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee scheduled to visit Murshidabad on December 4, just two days before the planned foundation ceremonies, the political temperature in the district is set to rise further, setting the stage for a highly charged pre-election atmosphere.
