Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir Lays Foundation for Babri Masjid Replica in Murshidabad

Suspended Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir on Saturday performed the foundation-stone laying ceremony for a mosque deliberately designed as a full-scale replica of the demolished Babri Masjid, choosing 6 December—the exact anniversary of the 1992 demolition—for the provocative event in West Bengal’s Beldanga area of Murshidabad district.

Surrounded by thousands of supporters who raised “Nara-e-Takbeer, Allahu Akbar” slogans, Kabir cut the ceremonial ribbon alongside visiting Islamic clerics while Rapid Action Force personnel, district police, and central paramilitary units formed a tight security cordon along National Highway 12, transforming the venue into a virtual fortress following weeks of escalating tension.

The Calcutta High Court on Friday declined to stay either the foundation-laying function or the future construction of the mosque, placing complete responsibility for law and order on the Mamata Banerjee-led state government, which had earlier expressed apprehension about potential communal flare-ups on such a symbolically charged date.

Also Read: TMC Expels Murshidabad MLA Over Babri Masjid Replica Proposal

Kabir, who was formally suspended from the TMC on Thursday for allegedly indulging in “communal politics” and has since announced his resignation from the Assembly and the formation of a new political party, used the high-profile occasion to assert his independence from the ruling dispensation and consolidate support among sections of the minority community.

The deliberate decision to model the proposed mosque on the Babri Masjid and schedule its foundation on the demolition anniversary has reignited national debate over the politicisation of religious symbols, with critics viewing it as a direct challenge to communal harmony while supporters frame it as an act of historical reclamation and architectural homage.

Also Read: TMC MLA Vows to Lay Babri Masjid Replica Foundation on Dec 6, Threatens Highway Blockade