TMC MLA Humayun Kabir has stated that he plans to construct a mosque similar to the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad district by 2025. Kabir, representing the Bharatpur constituency in Muslim-majority Murshidabad, described the project as a tribute to the Babri Masjid demolished in Ayodhya in 1992, aiming to unite the Muslim community in the state. He said that the mosque would cater to the aspirations of West Bengal’s “34 per cent minority population” and would be located in Beldanga.
Opposition leaders were quick to condemn Kabir’s statement. BJP’s Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, accused the TMC of trying to polarize communities for political gain, calling the remarks “provocative” and demanding an explanation from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, also from Murshidabad, labeled the comment as “irresponsible” and “divisive.”
The TMC quickly distanced itself from Kabir’s remarks. A senior party leader clarified that his statement did not reflect the party’s views. Kabir, however, defended his position, insisting that the project was about preserving history rather than creating division. He explained that his comments were driven by the pain Muslims feel over the Babri Masjid’s demolition and expressed no intent to incite tension.
Kabir had previously apologized to his party leadership for another controversial remark, accusing a “coterie” of influencing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s decisions.
