Political unrest in West Bengal has surged over the planned reconstruction of the Babri Mosque, demolished decades ago in Ayodhya, India. The BJP has described the event as a potential threat to communal peace, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has advised citizens to remain cautious.
According to prior announcements, the foundation stone-laying ceremony took place on Saturday (6 December) in Rejinagar, Murshidabad. The event was organised by Humayun Kabir, legislator of Bharatpur and temporarily expelled from the Trinamool Congress.
Authorities confirmed there were no clashes during the ceremony. Kabir addressed roughly 400 attendees from a two-storey stage situated about one kilometre from the mosque’s proposed location. He introduced two scholars from Saudi Arabia and began the proceedings with the ribbon-cutting amid chants of ‘Nara-e-Takbir, Allahu Akbar’.
Kabir defended the mosque construction, stating, ‘Constructing a place of worship is within our constitutional rights. There is nothing unconstitutional here. The Babri Mosque will be built.’ He called it a step for ‘mental restoration’ to heal the damage caused by its 1992 demolition.
Kabir also questioned the denial of naming rights, stating, ‘There are 400 million Muslims in India, four million in this state. Are we not allowed to build a single mosque?’ The matter has triggered political repercussions.
Trinamool Congress attempted to distance itself from the event. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh commented, ‘While people have the right to construct religious structures on private property, using such events to spread religious hatred for political gain is unacceptable.’
The BJP responded sharply. IT cell chief Amit Malviya claimed, ‘The mosque project is political, not religious, designed to manipulate emotions and strengthen vote banks.’ Former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh alleged that the Trinamool Congress is fostering communal tensions ahead of the 2026 elections.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted warnings on social media, urging vigilance against attempts to incite communal discord, adding, ‘Bengal’s soil has never bowed to division.’
Glive24/SS