Political Tension Escalates Over Babri Mosque Reconstruction in India

In West Bengal, political tensions have intensified over the proposed reconstruction of the demolished Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, India. The BJP perceives the event as a threat to communal harmony, while the state’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged the public to remain vigilant.

On Saturday (6 December), a foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Babri Mosque took place in Rejinagar, Murshidabad, drawing considerable attention. The event was called by Humayun Kabir, the legislator of Bharatpur in Murshidabad and temporarily expelled from the Trinamool Congress.

Authorities reported no incidents of clashes during the foundation-laying ceremony. Kabir addressed around 400 people from a two-storey stage located approximately one kilometre from the proposed mosque site. He introduced two visiting scholars from Saudi Arabia and inaugurated the event by cutting a ribbon amid chants of ‘Nara-e-Takbir, Allahu Akbar’.

Speaking on the mosque construction, Kabir said, ‘There is nothing unconstitutional in this. Constructing a place of worship is a constitutional right. The Babri Mosque will be built.’ He referred to the project as part of ‘mental restoration’ to heal the damage caused by its demolition in 1992.

Raising concerns about naming rights, Kabir questioned, ‘There are 400 million Muslims in the country. Four million in this state. Can we not build a single mosque?’ The political sphere has also been affected by the resulting tensions.

The Trinamool Congress sought to distance itself from the large gathering. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, ‘Individuals have the right to build religious structures on private land, but using such programmes to spread religious hatred for political gain is not acceptable.’

The BJP responded strongly. Amit Malviya, head of the party’s IT cell, stated, ‘This so-called mosque project is political, not religious. The objective is to incite emotions and strengthen vote banks.’

Former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh accused the Trinamool Congress of creating a communal environment ahead of the 2026 elections.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also posted a warning, urging residents to be alert against those attempting to fan communal flames. She stated, ‘The soil of Bengal has never bowed to division.’

Khaborwala/SS