The Calcutta High Court has declined to block the foundation-stone laying for a mosque in Beldanga, Murshidabad, rejecting a plea that invoked fears of communal unrest. The decision places full responsibility on the state government to ensure law and order during the event.
The petition, filed by a senior advocate, argued that the proposed mosque — described by its proponents as modelled on the structure demolished in Ayodhya in 1992 — could inflame communal tension, particularly as the ceremony is scheduled to coincide with the anniversary of the demolition. The court heard that the suspended MLA behind the project, Humayun Kabir, made remarks deemed provocative and detractors warned of potential public-order breakdown.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen conveyed that the Constitution does not permit them to restrain the construction of a place of worship. The bench directed that the state administration must make adequate arrangements to prevent disturbances. Central forces — 19 companies of the Central Armed Police Force — already deployed after earlier communal unrest in Murshidabad, remain on standby.
Kabir, though suspended by his party Trinamool Congress for “communal politics”, at once reaffirmed his plan. He told media that the event would begin at noon and involve Qur’an recitations, and that volunteers were ready to ensure that law and order would not be disturbed. He claimed the mosque would reflect the spirit of the original structure from Ayodhya.
Authorities are bracing for potential flashpoints. Local police, state security forces and central paramilitaries have been deployed in high numbers; route diversions have been planned on NH-12 leading to the Beldanga site; and district administration officials have drawn up contingency plans. According to officials, around 3,000 personnel — including CAPF and Rapid Action Force units — are on standby throughout the day.
Opposition leaders, notably Suvendu Adhikari, have voiced strong criticism of the nomenclature “Babri Masjid-style” for the new structure. Adhikari said that while he did not object to construction of a mosque per se, invoking the name of the demolished Ayodhya mosque risked communal provocation. He accused the state government of allowing the event “as scheduled”, describing the suspension of Kabir as symbolic and calling the entire move a gamble with peace.
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