In a move laden with political and religious symbolism, suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Humayun Kabir laid the foundation stone for a mosque modelled on the Babri Masjid in West Bengal's Murshidabad district. The ceremony took place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, coinciding with the anniversary of the 1992 demolition of the original Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
Ceremony Proceeds Amid Massive Gathering and High Security
The event was held at Beldanga, where thousands congregated, many carrying bricks and the Indian national flag to the proposed 25-acre site. Over 3,000 police personnel were deployed to manage the unexpectedly large crowds, which also included visitors from adjacent districts like Nadia, Malda, and North Dinajpur.
Kabir, the suspended MLA from Bharatpur, declared the project a matter of prestige for Muslims. He announced ambitious plans for the complex, stating, "Here, Babri Masjid will be built. This is a prestige fight for Muslims." The proposed development, estimated to cost Rs 300 crore, is slated to include not just the mosque but also a 300-bed hospital, a medical college, a helipad, a hotel, and a school.
Calcutta High Court's Stance and Political Fallout
A day prior to the event, on Friday, the Calcutta High Court declined to interfere with the foundation-laying ceremony. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Parthasarathi Sen stated it would not intervene at this stage but issued clear directives. The court permitted Kabir to organise the programme on the strict condition of maintaining law and order, with police instructed to prevent any disturbance.
The political repercussions were swift. The TMC had suspended Humayun Kabir on Wednesday, just days after he first vowed to build the replica. State minister Firhad Hakim questioned the sudden push for a Babri Masjid replica, indicating the party had previously warned the MLA.
Kabir used the platform to launch a sharp attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of arrogance and failing the minority community. He cited decreasing numbers of minority MLAs within the TMC over successive elections and made a bold proclamation: "I will crush her. I will make her the former (chief minister)." He further revealed plans to announce a new political party on December 22 and contest 135 seats.
Leaders React: Calls for Unity and Criticism
In response, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to social media platform X to mark 'Samhati Diwas' (Unity Day). Without directly naming the incident, she emphasized Bengal's history of unity, stating the soil "has never bowed its head to division." She affirmed a continued fight against communalism.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari issued an indirect critique. While asserting no objection to building mosques, he objected to the naming, linking the Babri Masjid to historical figures who, he claimed, "committed atrocities, forced conversions." He warned that supporting such a name was "playing with fire."
The foundation-laying in Beldanga has thus set the stage for a new flashpoint in West Bengal's political landscape, intertwining religious sentiment with escalating intra-party and inter-party rivalries.
