Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir laid the foundation for a "Babri-style" mosque in Murshidabad on Dec 6. The Calcutta HC refused to stay the event despite tensions.
Brajesh Mishra
In a provocative move on the anniversary of the 1992 demolition, suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA [Humayun Kabir] laid the foundation stone for a "Babri Masjid-style" mosque today in Rejinagar, Murshidabad. Defying his party's suspension and amid a heavy deployment of central forces, Kabir declared the project a matter of "prestige for the Muslim community." The event has turned the sensitive border district into a political flashpoint, with the BJP accusing Chief Minister [Mamata Banerjee] of "playing with fire" and the Calcutta High Court refusing to intervene but placing the onus of law and order squarely on the state.
The controversy erupted last month when Kabir announced plans for a mosque modeled on Ayodhya's Babri Masjid in Beldanga, a town already scarred by recent communal clashes. The TMC, wary of polarization ahead of the 2026 elections, swiftly suspended him for "communal politics." However, the Calcutta High Court declined to stay the ceremony, ruling that a religious event cannot be preemptively banned. This legal green light allowed Kabir to proceed, transforming a local construction project into a national symbol of defiance against the Supreme Court's 2019 Ayodhya verdict.
While the headlines focus on the "Babri" name, the deeper story is the "Battle for Muslim Leadership" in West Bengal. Kabir's move isn't just about a mosque; it's a calculated bid to break the TMC's grip on the minority vote bank. By championing a symbol that the TMC leadership wants to bury to avoid alienating Hindu voters, Kabir is exposing the fault lines in Mamata's secular coalition. This event signals the fragmentation of the Muslim vote, a development that could be catastrophic for the TMC in 2026 and inadvertently benefit the BJP.
This incident sets a dangerous precedent for "competitive communalism" in Bengal. If Kabir succeeds in building his ₹300-crore campus, it will become a permanent mobilizing symbol, potentially triggering counter-mobilizations by Hindu groups. The heavy security deployment along NH-12 highlights the fragility of peace in Murshidabad. Politically, it forces the TMC into a defensive posture, having to prove its secular credentials to Hindus while not alienating Muslims who may see Kabir as a hero.
If a politician can build a political career on the ghost of a demolished mosque 1,000 km away, have we really moved past the politics of 1992?
What is the Babri Masjid foundation controversy in Murshidabad? Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir laid the foundation stone for a mosque modeled after the Babri Masjid in Rejinagar, Murshidabad, on December 6, 2025. The event sparked controversy due to its timing (Babri demolition anniversary) and potential to incite communal tension.
Why did TMC suspend MLA Humayun Kabir? The Trinamool Congress suspended Kabir for "anti-party activities" and "communal politics" after he announced the Babri mosque project. The party distanced itself from the initiative to avoid religious polarization.
What did the Calcutta High Court rule on the mosque ceremony? The Calcutta High Court refused to stay the foundation ceremony, stating that a religious event cannot be preemptively banned. However, it directed the state government to ensure strict law and order, noting the area's sensitivity.
Is it legal to build a "Babri Masjid" replica? Yes, there is no legal ban on naming a mosque "Babri Masjid" or replicating its architecture. However, critics argue that doing so is politically provocative and undermines the Supreme Court's 2019 verdict that sought to close the Ayodhya dispute.
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