Political temperatures soared across West Bengal on Saturday as suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir is all set to lay the foundation stone for a mosque in Beldanga, Murshidabad — an event that drew sharp political reactions.
Preparations continued late into Friday night at the Moradighi intersection, where a sprawling venue was readied under heavy police security, in compliance with court directives. Quick Response Teams, RAF units, village police, women constables, and intelligence officers patrolled the area as the stage setup continued past 9:30 pm.
Kabir announced that the main ceremony would begin at 1 pm on Saturday, with religious rituals from early morning. Leaders from various regions had begun arriving by Friday evening.
The ceremony coincided with TMC’s annual Solidarity Day on December 6. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted a message on social media urging peace and communal harmony, emphasising Bengal’s legacy of unity.
Paying tribute to Dr B.R. Ambedkar on his Mahaparinirvan Diwas, she wrote that Bengal “never bowed its head to division and never will.” The Chief Minister highlighted Ambedkar’s association with Bengal, noting that he was elected to the Constituent Assembly from the legislature of Bengal.
While Mamata called for calm, she also issued a warning during a meeting in Berhampur on Thursday, saying that “politics of riots will not be tolerated” — a remark widely interpreted as directed at Kabir.
Standing on the foundation stone–laying stage, Kabir launched a fierce attack on the ruling party and its leader. Questioning TMC’s track record with minorities, he asked, “What have the minorities achieved in 15 years?”
Kabir alleged that the Chief Minister had come to power on minority support but “lied day after day.” Accusing Mamata of arrogance, he declared, “Whatever the Chief Minister does is right, and whatever others say is wrong. I will make her a former leader.”
He claimed that minorities constitute 37 per cent of Bengal’s electorate and accused the party of suppressing demands for fair rights. Kabir also reiterated his plan to form a new party, announcing that he would contest 135 seats, including 90 minority-dominated constituencies.
Responding sharply, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed Kabir’s allegations as “political conspiracy.”
“No one has been suspended for building a temple or mosque,” he said. “If someone uses religion as a tool for political polarisation, the party will not tolerate it. TMC respects every religion.”
Organisers claim the event cost between Rs 60–70 lakh, involving 2000–3000 volunteers, seven catering teams, and preparation of 40,000 plates of ‘Shahi Biryani’. The stage alone cost Rs 10 lakh, they said.
Kabir estimated a turnout of three lakh people, and the foundation area spans 25 bighas. The administration’s biggest concern is preventing the crowd from obstructing National Highway 12 — a critical north-south corridor.
Around 3,000 police personnel were deployed, including two SP-rank officers, 30 DSPs, 100 inspectors, 200 sub-inspectors and ASIs, civic volunteers, and 30 intelligence officials.
Senior officials visited the venue on Friday night and held discussions with Humayun. He later said, “I have received full cooperation from the police.”
Political observers believe the simultaneous messaging from Mamata on Solidarity Day and Kabir’s counter-rhetoric has sharpened tensions between calls for communal harmony and attempts at political mobilisation.
By choosing December 6 — a historically sensitive date — to lay the foundation of the mosque and announcing his political ambitions soon after suspension, Kabir has signalled that his conflict with the ruling party is far from over.
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