Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir on Wednesday began the construction of the much-hyped mosque, -- modelled on Ayodhya's Babri Masjid -- in West Bengal's Murshidabad district. Kabir, who recently floated the Janata Unnayan Party (JUP) following his ouster from the Trinamool Congress, announced that the mosque at Rejinagar in Beldanga would be completed within two years and would cost around Rs 50-55 crore. The mosque is being built on an 11-acre plot and will have the capacity to accommodate about 12,000 people to offer Namaz.
Amid the excitement of religious leaders and a few thousand residents from in and around Beldanga, construction workers began the brick-laying ceremony for the structure at around noon, with Kabir stating that the building of the mosque remained on course despite resistance from multiple quarters.
Many supporters were seen carrying bricks on their heads as a gesture of participation in the construction.
"To those who are opposing, I would say step aside. People are free to follow their own religions and build temples, churches, or whatever they wish. I will not oppose anyone in the name of Islam. My effort is for Islam to please Allah and perform my devotion, it is not about imposing anything," the JUP chief said.
"There's no force on earth which can stop the construction of this mosque. By the grace of God, we will finish its construction within two years. It will be built at a cost of Rs 50-55 crore," he added.
Kabir, however, announced that he would, for now, keep the scheduled 'Babri Yatra' -- a 235-km rally from Nadia's Palashi to Itahar in Uttar Dinajpur district -- on hold in the wake of the ongoing board exams.
Instead, the leader announced that he will hold a 22-km march on Thursday from Palashi to Beldanga.
"I have been informed by Malda police that the Babri Yatra would inconvenience the examinees of Madhyamik exams. I have, hence, decided to postpone that event which was supposed to be held with a convoy of 100 cars. Instead, I will hold a march on foot from Palashi to Beldanga, the site of the under-construction mosque, with 50,000 people," he said.
Kabir laid the foundation stone for a mosque, modelled on Ayodhya's Babri Masjid, on December 6 last year. The move, timed with the anniversary of the demolition of the 16th-century structure by a right-wing mob in December 1992, triggered sharp political reactions across West Bengal. Kabir reportedly raised over Rs 2.85 crore in donations within the first two days.
The TMC MLA from Bharatpur was suspended by his party for allegedly carrying out anti-party activities shortly after he announced the building of the mosque's replica, following which he floated his own outfit.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
