The Beldanga area of Murshidabad district in West Bengal has emerged as the epicentre of an intense political controversy. Humayun Kabir, the local MLA from Nowda and chief of the Aam Janta Unnayan Party, has openly challenged the local administration regarding the proposed construction of a Babri Masjid in the region. Kabir issued a warning that a massive demonstration will take place on December 6, threatening to bring vehicular traffic on the arterial highway to a standstill. The declaration immediately sparked sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress, escalating political tensions across the state.
Threat of Highway Gridlock and Call to Gather Thousands
While discussing the project budget and committee formation for the planned religious structure, Humayun Kabir adopted an aggressive posture against law enforcement authorities. He proclaimed that around 500,000 individuals would assemble near the site on December 6. Alongside this massive gathering, the legislator outlined plans to immobilise the transport corridor.
Kabir claimed that nearly 30 kilometres of NH-34 stretching between Rejinagar and Berhampore would fall under the total command of his supporters. Confronting the administration, he declared that the government should attempt to obstruct them if it possessed the resolve. The bold threat to disrupt one of the region's primary transport lifelines has raised alarms regarding law and order management ahead of the specified date.
BJP Rebuttal and Criticism Over Inflammatory Remarks
Reacting swiftly to Kabir's statements, BJP legislator from Rejinagar, Shakharav Sarkar, dismissed the warnings as empty rhetoric. Sarkar cited previous election cycles, noting that Kabir had earlier predicted ten casualties during bypolls, yet not a single drop of blood was shed. The BJP leader stressed that the ruling scenario had changed, asserting that the chief minister and home minister portfolio was held by Suvendu Adhikari, while questioning Kabir's capability to take control of public roadways.
Taking a sarcastic jibe at the MLA, Sarkar remarked that he would recommend Kabir for a Padma Shri award in recognition of his deceitful theatrics. Clarifying his stance on the religious structure, Sarkar maintained that there is no objection to erecting a mosque, but deliberate attempts to incite trouble will not succeed. He suggested that instead of engineering conflict over the designation, decisions regarding naming could be reached through deliberations with imams and religious figures. Issuing a stern note of caution, Sarkar advised the legislator to act responsibly considering his advanced age, warning that the outcome witnessed on October 6 would repeat itself on December 6.
Trinamool Congress Warns of Polarization Pitfalls
Joining the political discourse, Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh cautioned against viewing the sensitive episode strictly through a religious lens. Ghosh argued that sensationalising such matters along communal lines does not serve public interest.
Ghosh pointed out that fueling religion-centric controversies ultimately creates fertile ground for the BJP to gain political leverage. He remarked that polarising debates are often escalated to engineer electoral divisions across different voting blocs. Ghosh concluded that the fallout from this heated confrontation would produce both direct and indirect political ramifications throughout the state.
