Humayun Kabir’s mosque push draws sharp reactions ahead of Assembly polls
February 12, 2026: As West Bengal moves closer to Assembly elections, the political temperature has risen over the Babri Masjid issue. Janata Union Party leader Humayun Kabir has triggered controversy after initiating construction work related to a proposed “Babri Masjid” in Murshidabad. A day later, he launched a ‘Babri Yatra’ as part of his outreach campaign. The march began from Palashi and proceeded by vehicle to Rejinagar, after which Kabir undertook a 22-kilometre foot march to Beldanga, the proposed site of the mosque. The original 265–300 kilometre route was shortened due to ongoing board examinations, and organisers said no microphones or loudspeakers would be used to avoid disruption.
Visuals showed Kabir covering parts of the journey on a motorcycle and on foot. Reiterating his stance, Kabir said he would go ahead with building the mosque and argued that there should be no opposition, claiming that Muslims did not resist the construction of the Ram Temple and deserved similar respect. His remarks have intensified political debate in the poll-bound state.
The BJP reacted sharply to the development, with MP Ravi Kishan alleging that such moves are politically motivated. He claimed that opposition forces in Bengal were acting out of fear of the BJP’s growing prospects ahead of the elections. As campaigning gains momentum, the Babri Yatra has added a fresh flashpoint to Bengal’s already charged political landscape.