Daijiworld Media Network - Murshidabad
Murshidabad, Dec 6: West Bengal braces for a tense and politically charged Saturday as suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir goes ahead with the foundation-laying ceremony of a mosque in Beldanga, which he has publicly described as “modelled on the Babri Masjid.” The event coincides with December 6 — a date that remains sensitive due to the demolition anniversary of the Babri structure in Ayodhya.
The venue along NH-12 has turned into a high-security zone with large-scale deployment of police, Rapid Action Force and central forces. The Calcutta High Court on Friday refused to halt the event but made it clear that the State Government would be fully responsible for maintaining law and order.
Kabir, who was suspended from TMC earlier this week for “communal politics,” has claimed that nearly three lakh people may attend the ceremony. The large-scale mobilisation in the district has added to the political unease surrounding the event.
Governor C. V. Ananda Bose appealed to citizens to remain calm and not be provoked by rumours, while the administration has drawn up diversion plans on the State’s only major north-south highway to avoid disruptions. Senior officers said around 3,000 security personnel would remain on duty throughout the day.
Kabir, once associated with Congress and later BJP before joining TMC, has projected the programme as a show of strength after his suspension. He has announced plans to resign as MLA and form his own political party later this month.
Preparations at the venue resemble a massive public gathering, with a 150-ft-long stage erected amid paddy fields and seating arranged for hundreds of invitees. Organisers claim two clerics from Saudi Arabia will attend the ceremony. Around 3,000 volunteers have been deployed to manage the crowd and traffic. Local caterers have been tasked with preparing nearly 60,000 biryani packets, with expenses estimated at over ?70 lakh.
As per the schedule, Quran recitation will begin at 10 am, followed by the foundation ceremony at noon, a community meal at 2 pm and dispersal by 4 pm in line with police instructions.
Meanwhile, the ruling party will observe ‘Samhati Diwas’ statewide, promoting communal harmony, while the Left Front will mark the day as “Black Day,” keeping the divisive history of December 6 alive in Bengal’s political narrative.
With security tightened and political stakes running high, all eyes are now on Beldanga to see whether Saturday’s programme concludes peacefully or sparks fresh tension in the State.