JD(U) MP: Muslims Have Full Right to Build Babri Masjid Replica Mosque

JD(U) MP Kaushalendra Kumar on Monday defended the construction of a mosque in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, modelled on the historic Babri Masjid of Ayodhya. The foundation stone was laid on December 6 by Humayun Kabir, a suspended Trinamool Congress MLA, prompting political controversy in the run-up to the state assembly elections.

Speaking from his parliamentary constituency of Nalanda, Kumar emphasized that the Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to practice and propagate their religion. “If building such a mosque is in line with Muslim sentiments, nobody should have a problem with it,” he said.

The JD(U) leader also distanced himself from the BJP’s stance, which opposes the mosque’s construction on the grounds that it honours Babur, the 16th-century Mughal ruler. “I have not seen Babur and do not have much idea of what he stood for. But we have been following the Constitution since Independence, which guarantees freedom of religion,” Kumar stated.

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

Kumar pointed out that the controversy is not one-sided. He argued that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s administration acted against Kabir for expressing his religious sentiments, highlighting the political dimensions of the issue ahead of upcoming assembly polls.

Humayun Kabir, who represents the Bharatpur assembly segment in Muslim-majority Murshidabad, laid the foundation stone of the mosque after the Calcutta High Court declined to intervene in its construction. The proposed mosque is intended to resemble the Babri Masjid, which was demolished in Ayodhya in 1992, and has since been replaced by a Ram temple following a Supreme Court verdict.

The issue has ignited debate across political and religious lines, with JD(U) asserting constitutional rights, while the BJP and other groups raise historical and political concerns. The development underscores ongoing tensions around religious structures and minority rights in India’s sensitive socio-political landscape.

Also Read: Murshidabad on High Alert as Controversial Mosque Ceremony Scheduled on Babri Masjid Anniversary