Suspended TMC MLA's Babri mosque event today, BJP's 'Babur' warning
What's the story
Suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir is set to lay the foundation stone of a mosque modeled after the Babri Masjid today in Beldanga, West Bengal's Murshidabad district. The event started at 10:00am with Quran recitation, and the foundation stone-laying ceremony will be held at noon. Despite opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), police have given permission for a peaceful gathering after the Calcutta High Court declined to intervene.
Preparations underway
Event organizers prepare for massive turnout
The event is expected to draw a huge crowd, with Kabir claiming "nearly 3 lakh people will gather across 25 bighas near Moradighi on Saturday." Religious leaders from several states are likely to attend. Seven catering agencies have been hired to serve 'shahi biryani', and food expenses are estimated at over ₹30 lakh. Around 3,000 volunteers will manage the crowd and access roads to avoid bottlenecks on NH-12.
Warning issued
BJP leader issues warning over mosque event
Meanwhile, BJP leader Arjun Singh warned Kabir against going ahead with the event. He said, "If Kabir tries to build a Babri Masjid here, I will send him to Babur (Mughal emperor). There will be no foundation-laying ceremony. It is all drama." Singh also reportedly emphasized that India is a "Hindu-majority nation" and that using the name 'Babri' in this context insults the Constitution.
Party suspension
TMC suspends Kabir, he plans to form new party
The TMC has distanced itself from Kabir's plans and suspended him. Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said, "We noticed that one of our MLAs from Murshidabad suddenly declared that he would build the Babri masjid. Why suddenly Babri masjid? We already warned him." Despite the suspension, Kabir announced he would resign as MLA on December 17 and form his own party on December 22. He said his party would contest in 135 out of 294 assembly seats in the upcoming election.