Kolkata: A fierce exchange broke out between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress after suspended MLA Humayun Kabir announced plans to lay the foundation for what he described as a Babri Masjid style mosque in Murshidabad on Saturday.
The BJP accused the ruling party of attempting to polarise voters, while the Trinamool Congress dismissed the allegation as unfounded. Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya said on X that reports from Beldanga had caused “serious concern”. He alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was “using the MLA to polarise Muslims for political gains”. Malviya further claimed that Kabir’s supporters had been seen carrying bricks for the construction and that the legislator had insisted he enjoyed police support. These assertions intensified the Bharatiya Janata Party’s attack on the state government, which it has frequently accused of appeasement politics.
The Trinamool Congress noted that Kabir had already been suspended and rejected suggestions that the party had any role in the matter. Party leaders said the BJP was attempting to manufacture controversy for electoral advantage and argued that law and order remained under control. Kabir’s plan has stirred tensions in the district, with local authorities monitoring the situation closely. While no incident of violence has been reported, police presence in the area has been increased to prevent any escalation.
The episode has added a new flashpoint to the ongoing rivalry between the two parties, each accusing the other of exploiting religious sentiment as the state braces for a charged political season.
