The Calcutta High Court on Friday declined to halt the proposed construction of a mosque in Beldanga, Murshidabad — a structure that its proponent, suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir, has publicly stated will be modelled on the historic Babri Masjid.
The court’s observations came just days before the scheduled foundation-laying ceremony on December 6, a date that also marks the anniversary of the demolition of the original Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992.
The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul heard a public interest litigation seeking a stay on the event, citing fears of communal tension. After hearing submissions, the bench refused to intervene in the proposed construction and instead directed that responsibility for maintaining peace and law and order rested with the West Bengal government.
The petition claimed the planned ceremony, combined with Kabir’s recent public remarks, could inflame local tensions. It referred to the MLA allegedly using “filthy and derogatory statements and hate speech against a community” on social media and YouTube channels, arguing that such conduct by an elected representative “may break the communal harmony of our state as well as our country”.
Kabir, who has regularly drawn attention for provocative comments on various matters including disagreements within his party, was suspended on Thursday by the Trinamool Congress for what the party described as “communal politics”. Following the suspension, Kabir stated he would resign as MLA and launch a new political outfit later this month.
The court did not issue any restriction on the ceremony but made clear that it would be the state government’s responsibility to ensure peace and order amid the tense political backdrop and the symbolic timing of the event.
