India: Tensions rise in West Bengal after call to build “Babri-style” mosque
India: Tensions rise in West Bengal after call to build “Babri-style” mosque
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A controversial announcement by TMC MLA Humayun Kabir has sparked political uproar in West Bengal. On November 24, 2025, Kabir declared his intention to build a new mosque “in the style of the Babri Masjid” in the Beldanga area of Murshidabad, NDTV India reported.
According to the source, he further announced that the foundation stone would be laid on December 6 — the 33rd anniversary of the demolition of the original Babri Masjid — and estimated that construction would span roughly three years.
The statement provoked immediate backlash. The BJP accused Kabir of using religious symbolism to polarize communities ahead of state elections, labeling the plan as “appeasement politics.”
Tensions escalated further when TMC leadership distanced itself from the remark: senior party figures described the proposal as Kabir’s personal opinion, not an official TMC policy.
Posters supporting the mosque plan have since appeared across Murshidabad, intensifying public debate. But as of now, no official construction clearance has been reported, and local authorities have not authorized the project. Observers suggest the announcement may be more a political statement than a concrete development plan.
The controversy has reignited communal sensitivities in a district with a significant minority population. With elections approaching, critics warn that such moves may fuel polarization rather than foster communal harmony — underscoring the fragile balance between religious expression and political strategy in West Bengal’s volatile electoral climate.
