Not UP, New 'Babri Masjid' To Be Built In Bengal; Construction Begins Today On This Site

The proposed construction of a new mosque named 'Babri Masjid' in West Bengal's Murshidabad district is set to formally begin today, triggering political controversy and heightened security concerns across states.

Visuals from Beldanga in Murshidabad, where the structure is planned, showed preparations underway, with earthmovers deployed and arrangements made for a large-scale religious programme.

The initiative is being led by Humayun Kabir, a suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA and founder of the Janata Unnayan Party. Kabir has announced that the foundation stone ceremony and commencement of construction will take place around noon, following a Quran recitation programme scheduled from 10 am to 11:30 am.

According to him, nearly 1,200 people will participate in the recitation, while around 5,000 attendees are expected at the overall event. Prominent members of the Muslim community from various parts of West Bengal, including individuals not affiliated with politics, are also likely to be present.

Kabir had first laid the foundation stone at the same site on December 6 last year, a date that coincides with the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992. That move sparked sharp reactions and eventually led to his suspension from the Trinamool Congress. Despite the backlash, Kabir has maintained that the project is a purely religious initiative and has insisted that the programme will proceed as planned.

He has also attacked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claiming that she would not return to power, further widening the rift between him and his former party.

Reports suggest that Kabir has received donations exceeding ₹1.30 crore for the construction of the mosque, which he says reflects public support for the project. He has previously expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in the construction of a mosque in Ayodhya, despite the Supreme Court's 2019 verdict that allotted five acres of land to the Sunni Central Waqf Board at Dhannipur, around 20 km from the disputed site. No construction has begun there so far.

Meanwhile, the announcement has drawn strong opposition from Hindutva groups in Uttar Pradesh. The Vishwa Hindu Raksha Parishad has put up banners in Lucknow calling for a march to Murshidabad to protest against the proposed mosque. Some of the slogans threaten to prevent or demolish what they describe as a "Babri Masjid-style shrine." The group's chief, Gopal Rai, has said they plan to reach Murshidabad on February 10 and gather on February 11 to stop the construction, claiming that no structure should be built in the name of Babri Masjid, which they consider a closed chapter of history.

Local police in Lucknow said they had not received any formal complaints regarding the banners and would act only if objections are raised or if directed by the government.

The issue has also resonated in political speeches. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently asserted that the Babri Masjid would never be rebuilt, reiterating the finality of the Ram temple construction following the Supreme Court verdict. Referring to the Ayodhya movement, he said the temple had been built as promised and dismissed any talk of rebuilding the Babri structure.

The Babri Masjid dispute, rooted in claims that a Ram temple existed at the site before a mosque was built during the Mughal era, had spanned over a century before the Supreme Court settled the matter in 2019. The developments in Murshidabad have now reopened old fault lines, with authorities closely watching the situation amid fears of tension and unrest.