Rebel MLA Humayun Kabir Sparks Controversy With Babri-Inspired Mosque Plan
Kabir vows to lay foundation stone on December 6 and threatens blockade of NH-34, drawing sharp political reactions in poll-bound Bengal.
Murshidabad: With the Assembly elections just weeks away, rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir has triggered a fresh political and communal storm by announcing that he will lay the foundation of a mosque in Beldanga on December 6 — designed on the model of the demolished Babri Masjid. He also declared that National Highway 34 would remain “under Muslim control” that day.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Kabir reiterated the promise he had made last year and issued a direct challenge to both the district administration and the state government. He accused officials of being influenced by the RSS and dared them to prevent the event. Kabir also warned that any obstruction to what he called a “peaceful programme” would be met with resistance, claiming that “even thousands of police” would not be able to control the highway.
Posters promoting the proposed foundation ceremony appeared across Beldanga before being torn down, heightening tension in the area, which has a history of sensitive communal incidents and several Muslim-majority neighbourhoods.
Kabir, known for frequently shifting political allegiance—moving between Congress, TMC and BJP four times since 2011—has been openly at odds with the TMC leadership for months. He recently announced plans to form his own political outfit. Despite issuing multiple show-cause notices, the TMC has not expelled him, a hesitation now drawing criticism as the state moves towards elections.
The TMC leadership quickly distanced itself from Kabir’s remarks. Senior minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury, who also heads the West Bengal unit of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, warned that attempts were being made to create a “new emotional atmosphere” that could destabilise the state. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee dismissed Kabir as politically insignificant and said voters trust only Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Opposition parties seized the moment. The BJP accused the ruling party of selectively encouraging polarisation, while the CPI(M) described the episode as another example of the TMC’s “ideological inconsistency,” pointing to Kabir’s past ties with the BJP.
With Mamata Banerjee camping in Murshidabad and the administration on alert, Kabir’s announcement has become a major flashpoint in an already charged pre-election environment, raising concerns about communal harmony at a critical time for the state.
