Calcutta high court (ANI image)
NEW DELHI: The Calcutta high court on Friday refused to intervene in the construction of a mosque proposed by suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir at Beldanga in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district.The court’s observation came ahead of the proposed foundation-laying ceremony, scheduled for December 6, the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. The mosque is proposed to be modelled on the Babri Masjid.A division bench headed by acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a stay on the ceremony, directed that the responsibility of maintaining law and order would rest with the West Bengal government.The PIL, filed on Thursday, argued that the event could disturb communal harmony in the region. The petitioner also urged the court to take action against Kabir for his alleged provocative and derogatory statements. The plea stated that his remarks on social media and news platforms amounted to hate speech and had the potential to disrupt public peace and communal harmony.However, the court declined to stop the construction activity, leaving the matter of law and order entirely to the state administration. The decision comes a day after the Trinamool Congress suspended Humayun Kabir from the party for what it termed “communal politics.” Following his suspension, Kabir announced that he would resign as an MLA and launch a new political party later this month.The controversy erupted after Kabir publicly declared that he would go ahead with the ‘shilanyas’ (foundation stone-laying) of a mosque named after the Babri Masjid on December 6.He maintained that the programme would be held under his “constitutional rights” and claimed that thousands of volunteers would be deployed to ensure no disturbance to any community.Kabir also rejected concerns expressed by Raj Bhawan over possible law-and-order issues and warned that any attempt by the administration to stop the event could lead to protests, including blocking a key highway.Posters announcing the proposed “Babri Masjid shilanyas” later appeared in several parts of Murshidabad, further intensifying political tensions. Police officials have described the reference to Babri as symbolically sensitive and high-risk in the present political climate. The district administration has not granted formal permission for the event so far and a law-and-order review is underway.Political reactions have been sharp and divided. While the TMC sought to distance itself from Kabir’s statements, party leaders said his remarks were personal and not endorsed by the organisation. State minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury said naming a mosque after the Babri Masjid would not solve any community issues and questioned the intent behind the move.The BJP accused the ruling TMC of encouraging polarisation for electoral gain, while the CPI(M) described the episode as symptomatic of deepening communal politics in the state. Congress leader Udit Raj, however, defended Kabir’s right to lay the foundation of a mosque, calling opposition to it “meaningless speculation” and stressing religious freedom.Political analysts say that the December 6 event has turned into a broader flashpoint of symbolism, identity and electoral politics in minority-dominated Murshidabad.