A foundation-laying ceremony for the reconstruction of the demolished Babri Mosque in Ayodhya has ignited political and communal tensions in West Bengal. The event, held in Rejinagar, Murshidabad, was organized by suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Humayun Kabir, who described the project as a constitutional right and a step toward healing the wounds of the 1992 demolition. Around 400 people attended the ceremony, which proceeded without reported violence.
The TMC leadership distanced itself from the event, emphasizing that while individuals may build religious structures on private land, exploiting such acts for political gain is unacceptable. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sharply criticized the initiative, calling it a politically motivated attempt to consolidate Muslim votes. BJP leaders Amit Malviya and Dilip Ghosh accused the TMC of deliberately stoking communal sentiments ahead of the 2026 state elections.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged citizens to remain vigilant against divisive forces, asserting that Bengal’s tradition of communal harmony must be preserved. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent escalation.