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New Delhi: Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir on Saturday laid the foundation stone for what he described as a “Babri Masjid-style” mosque in Murshidabad’s Rejinagar area. The ceremony, held under an extensive security cover, drew thousands of people who had gathered from early morning. As Kabir cut a ceremonial ribbon alongside visiting clerics, chants of “Nara-e-Takbeer, Allahu Akbar” echoed across the venue.
Large contingents of police, RAF personnel and central forces were stationed across Rejinagar and neighbouring Beldanga to prevent any disturbance. Kabir alleged attempts were made to derail the event but asserted that “lakhs of people” would thwart such plans. “No force can stop the foundation stone laying. We are following Calcutta High Court orders,” he said before reaching the site, adding that over 2,000 volunteers had been deployed.
Kabir announced that the project would not only include a mosque but also a hospital, an educational institution and a guest house accessible to all communities. He accused the TMC of “religious polarisation” and claimed rival groups were conspiring to incite violence.
On the ground, residents began gathering well before the event. Volunteers like Safiqul Islam from Uttar Barasat transported bricks and materials for the upcoming structure. Kabir estimated that nearly three lakh people could assemble across the 25-bigha site and said religious leaders from several states had confirmed presence. He also claimed that two qazis from Saudi Arabia were expected to arrive in a special convoy from Kolkata airport.
Preparations for food and logistics were sprawling. Seven catering teams were hired to cook shahi biryani, with about 40,000 food packets arranged for visitors and another 20,000 for local residents. The food budget alone is estimated to cross Rs 30 lakh, while the overall event expenditure may reach Rs 60–70 lakh. A 150-ft by 80-ft stage, costing around Rs 10 lakh, was built to host nearly 400 dignitaries. More than 3,000 volunteers were tasked with crowd and traffic management.
Kabir said the programme would begin with a Quran recitation at 10 am followed by the foundation ceremony at noon. Authorities, meanwhile, flagged concerns about managing the huge turnout and keeping NH-12 free of disruptions. A senior police officer said maintaining uninterrupted traffic flow was their top priority, with diversion plans ready if required.
Despite concerns and political criticism, Kabir remained confident about a massive turnout. “People will come because this is a historic moment for the area,” he said, dismissing fears of unrest and emphasising that the grounds would be cleared by 4 pm as directed by police.
