Bengal MLA lays foundation for Babri Masjid replica, BJP-TMC clash erupts

Kolkata (The Uttam Hindu): The atmosphere in West Bengal's Murshidabad district heated up on Saturday when Humayun Kabir, a recently suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA, laid the foundation stone for a new mosque modeled after the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in Rejinagar. Kabir had specifically chosen December 6th, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, for the event. Thousands of people had gathered at the venue since morning, and amid tight security and the presence of religious leaders, Humayun Kabir laid the foundation stone for the mosque by cutting the ribbon. Supporters chanted religious slogans. A tight vigil was maintained in Rejinagar and surrounding areas by police, the Rapid Action Force (RAF), and central forces to prevent any untoward incident.

This move by Humayun Kabir, who was suspended by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) earlier this week for allegedly engaging in communal politics, has sparked a new political storm in the state. The issue has sparked a heated exchange of accusations between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC). BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya attacked the Mamata Banerjee government on social media, alleging that the Chief Minister was using Kabir to polarize Muslim votes for political gain. Describing Beldanga and Rejinagar as highly sensitive areas, Malviya warned that such activities could lead to a breakdown in law and order and disrupt National Highway 12, which connects North Bengal, posing a threat to national security. He called it a purely political project, not a religious one.

On the other hand, the Trinamool Congress has retaliated by completely rejecting the BJP's allegations. The TMC has labeled its suspended MLA, Kabir, an "agent" of the BJP and RSS. Senior TMC leaders say that Kabir, with the tacit consent of the opposition, is working to spread unrest and disrupt peace in the district. While BJP leader Dilip Ghosh called it vote bank politics ahead of the assembly elections, the TMC claims that the people of Murshidabad are peace-loving and will not be provoked by Kabir. Currently, a tense calm has prevailed in the area since the foundation stone laying ceremony of the mosque, and the administration is closely monitoring the situation.