“I will lay the foundation of the mosque; no one can stop me” – Ex-TMC MLA Humayun Kabir’s Bold Statement, Sharp Attack on CM Mamata

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday suspended Debra MLA Humayun Kabir after he made controversial remarks about building a mosque in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, modeled after the Babri Masjid. The party accused him of attempting to incite communal tensions and claimed that he was being encouraged by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, Kabir remains adamant about constructing the mosque in the Babri Masjid style.

Speaking to the media, Humayun Kabir said, “When I said I will lay the foundation, I will lay the foundation. Everything else will be explained later. On 25 bighas of land, there will be an Islamic hospital, a rest house, a hotel-cum-restaurant, a helipad, a park, and a medical college. Wait a little. Don’t worry. In the coming days, we will complete this work.” He added defiantly, “Who else will make promises in Murshidabad? Who can stop me… I am challenging them.”

Targeting CM Mamata Banerjee, Kabir said, “When she first came to power, she got 182 seats. I was needed. I was included in the party… Why was this done to me for 12–13 years? Why was I included in the party? Today, the CM builds the Jagannath Temple by taking money from people; they fund Durga Puja. Muslim clerics are given an allowance of ₹3,000; altogether, ₹54,000 is given. While committees receive ₹1,10,000 annually. She is doing the work of the RSS.”

On December 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid was demolished in Ayodhya. TMC senior leader Firhad Hakim, announcing Kabir’s suspension, said his behavior represented gross indiscipline at a time when the party is working to maintain peace and communal harmony in the state. In the presence of Murshidabad leaders Akhruzzaman and Niyamat Sheikh, Hakim added that Kabir was suspended with the approval of CM Mamata Banerjee.