Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir on Saturday pressed ahead with his plan to lay the foundation stone of what he has described as a “Babri Masjid-style” mosque in Murshidabad, even as the district remained on high alert.
Speaking hours before the event, Kabir told news agency ANI, “All is well. Wait until it's 12 noon; the reading of the Quran will begin then. After that, the foundation stone will be laid. I am receiving all cooperation from the administration. Murshidabad Police and State Police are all supporting me. I thank them.”
Kabir’s plan to build a mosque “modelled on the Babri Masjid” has stirred unease, and holding the ceremony on December 6, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, has only amplified the political messaging around it.
{{/usCountry}}Kabir’s plan to build a mosque “modelled on the Babri Masjid” has stirred unease, and holding the ceremony on December 6, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, has only amplified the political messaging around it.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, authorities tightened security around the Beldanga site, which Kabir claims will draw “three lakh people”. The area has been converted into a high-security zone with Rapid Action Force (RAF), district police and central forces deployed on both sides of National Highway 12, reported news agency PTI.
The heightened vigil follows the Calcutta high court’s decision on Friday to allow the event to proceed but hold the state government entirely responsible for maintaining law and order.
‘Ensure no disturbance anywhere’
Following the high court's order, police officials initiated backchannel communication with Kabir’s team late Friday to coordinate security arrangements, reported PTI.
Governor CV Ananda Bose urged people not to fall for “provocative statements and rumours” and asked the administration to ensure there was “no disturbance anywhere”.
For Kabir, a Congress–BJP–turned–TMC rebel whose political trajectory has swung as sharply as the reactions to his announcements, the event doubles as a show of strength.
He was suspended by the TMC on Thursday for what the party described as “communal politics”. The MLA, who has previously drawn showcause notices for controversial remarks, has said he will step down as legislator and launch his own outfit later this month.
Large-scale programme
According to the PTI report, preparations at the Beldanga venue have taken on the scale of a full-fledged public fair. A 150-ft-long, 80-ft-wide stage has been erected over paddy fields off NH-12, with seating arranged for around 400 guests.
Organisers claim that two clerics from Saudi Arabia are expected to arrive in a special convoy from Kolkata airport for the ceremony.
Seven catering agencies from Murshidabad have been contracted to cook shahi biryani, with an estimated 40,000 packets prepared for guests and another 20,000 for local residents. A close aide of Humayun Kabir estimated the food bill at over ₹30 lakh, adding that the total budget for the event may reach ₹70 lakh.