The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has formally accused suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir of committing an offence under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for his role in proposing a mosque modelled on Ayodhya's Babri Masjid in West Bengal's Murshidabad district. The right-wing organisation has urged the Mamata Banerjee-led state government to order the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the legislator.
VHP's Legal Allegations and Letter to CM
In a strongly-worded letter addressed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, VHP national president Alok Kumar labelled the proposed construction and its intended naming after Mughal emperor Babur as a "deliberate symbolic act." He argued that the move was foreseeably offensive to the Hindu community and had the clear potential to promote religious enmity, thereby attracting legal action.
Kumar elaborated that the historical figure of Babur is intrinsically linked to the destruction of Hindu religious sites. He contended that naming a mosque after him, especially in light of the statements made by MLA Humayun Kabir, indicates the action was neither accidental nor incidental. The VHP chief described the entire episode as a "malicious act likely to outrage Hindu religious feelings."
The Controversial Foundation Stone Laying
The political and religious controversy erupted on December 6, the anniversary of the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. On this date, the suspended TMC leader laid the foundation stone for the mosque at Rejinagar in Murshidabad district. The event was conducted under a massive security blanket, with personnel from the state police, Rapid Action Force (RAF), and central forces deployed across Rejinagar and the neighbouring Beldanga area, which were turned into controlled zones.
Alok Kumar, in his letter, specifically pointed to the timing of the ceremony and the content of Kabir's speeches as proof of deliberate intent. "The choice of the name and the date of commencement of construction, and the statements and speeches by Humayun Kabir, MLA, show that this is deliberate," Kumar asserted. He emphasised that Babur remains a deeply contentious figure in Indian history, particularly in relation to Hindu religious and cultural sentiments.
Invoking the New Legal Code and Political Context
The VHP has called upon the West Bengal government to examine the applicability of Sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with other relevant provisions. The organisation has demanded concrete legal action by filing an FIR not only against Kabir but also against his associates involved in the project.
This development adds a fresh layer of tension to West Bengal's political landscape, which is already heating up ahead of the state assembly elections scheduled for early next year. The VHP's direct appeal to the chief minister places the ball in the state government's court, testing its response to an issue that intertwines religious symbolism, historical narratives, and legal boundaries under the newly implemented criminal code.
