Rejinagar, February 11 – Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir began construction of a mosque, modeled after Ayodhya's Babri Masjid, in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, on Wednesday.
Kabir, who recently formed the Janata Unnayan Party (JUP) after being ousted from the Trinamool Congress, announced that the mosque in Rejinagar, Beldanga, would be completed within two years and cost around Rs 50-55 crore.
The mosque is being built on an 11-acre plot and will have the capacity to accommodate around 12,000 people for prayer.
Amidst the excitement of religious leaders and several thousand residents from Beldanga, construction workers began laying bricks for the structure around noon, with Kabir stating that the mosque's construction would proceed as planned despite resistance from various quarters.
Many supporters were seen carrying bricks as a gesture of participation in the construction.
Kabir stated, "To those who are opposing, I say, step aside. People are free to practice their own religions and build temples, churches, or whatever they wish. I will not oppose anyone in the name of Islam. My aim is to please Allah and fulfill my devotion, it is not about imposing anything."
Kabir also announced that he would postpone the 235-km 'Babri Yatra' rally from Nadia's Palashi to Itahar in Uttar Dinajpur district, due to ongoing board exams. Instead, he announced a 22-km march from Palashi to Beldanga on Thursday, involving 50,000 people.
Kabir had laid the foundation stone for the mosque, modeled after Ayodhya's Babri Masjid, on December 6 last year. This move, timed with the anniversary of the demolition of the 16th-century structure by a right-wing mob in 1992, triggered strong political reactions across West Bengal. Kabir reportedly raised over Rs 2.85 crore through donations in the first two days.
The TMC MLA from Bharatpur was suspended by his party for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities shortly after announcing the construction of the mosque's replica, following which he formed his own party.
Kabir also stirred political controversy in the state by announcing that his party would contest 135 out of the 294 assembly seats in the upcoming state elections, against both the TMC and the BJP.
Kabir has held preliminary discussions with several opposition parties, including the CPI(M) and Asaduddin Owasi's AIMIM, but has not yet formally formed an alliance with any of them. The BJP has described the JUP as the "B-team" of the TMC, a claim the latter has denied.
Responding to the developments, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh stated that the construction aimed to "consolidate the Muslim vote bank," but would have little impact on voters in Bengal.
"Humayun Kabir is building this mosque for the same reason Mamata Banerjee is constructing temples across the state – to consolidate voters along communal lines. This will have no impact on the electorate because people require development," he alleged.
On Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had stated that the Babri Masjid would never be rebuilt until 'Qayamat' (Day of Judgment).
Meanwhile, Kabir is embroiled in a fresh controversy after state police attached properties worth around Rs 11 crore belonging to some of his relatives in connection with a long-standing drug trafficking case.
Alleging vendetta by the TMC government, Kabir announced from the construction site of the mosque that he would gherao the office of the SP Murshidabad on February 14.
"This is the TMC's way of retaliation since I have now politically taken it. I will move the court. But before that, I will gherao the Murshidabad SP's office on Saturday with one lakh people. I have enough evidence to prove that my relatives are being framed," he declared.
A total of 14 properties, including land, houses, and commercial establishments in areas such as Naldahari in Murshidabad district's Lalgola, 15 bank accounts and vehicles are being attached as part of the legal process, Superintendent of Police Dhritiman Sarkar told reporters.
The process to attach the assets of Shariful Islam, the father-in-law of Kabir's daughter, was initiated after allegations were made that the properties were acquired through the narcotics trade over the past several years, he said.
