Suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir went ahead on Saturday with his plan to lay the foundation stone of a mosque he has repeatedly described as being “Babri Masjid-style,” setting off a wave of political ripples across West Bengal. The event, scheduled pointedly on December 6, the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992, has drawn widespread attention and concern from political parties, law enforcement agencies, and civil society.

The district administration in Murshidabad has been on high alert since Friday evening, with state police and central forces deployed in significant numbers in and around Beldanga, where Kabir has chosen to hold the ceremony. The Calcutta High Court’s decision on Friday to allow the programme to go ahead, while placing full responsibility for maintaining law and order on the state government, further intensified preparations on the ground.

Kabir, who has had a turbulent political career marked by multiple party shifts and recurring controversies, maintained on Saturday morning that the event would proceed peacefully. Speaking to news agency ANI, he said, “All is well. Wait until it’s 12 noon; the reading of the Quran will begin then. After that, the foundation stone will be laid. I am receiving all cooperation from the administration. Murshidabad Police and State Police are all supporting me. I thank them.”

His assertion that the police and local administration were extending full support stood in contrast to the heightened anxiety in the region. Authorities have cordoned off large stretches of National Highway 12, converting the event zone into a controlled security corridor. According to officials, the deployment includes Murshidabad district police, state armed police units, rapid-action teams and personnel from central forces.

Kabir has publicly claimed that “three lakh people” would attend the programme, a projection viewed with scepticism by both security officials and political observers but nonetheless factored into the risk assessment. The administration has prepared for large crowds, given the volatile nature of the date and the possibility of political groups attempting to capitalise on the symbolism of the occasion.

The location in Beldanga, a densely populated area with a history of politically charged gatherings, has been transformed in the run-up to the event. A 150-ft-long, 80-ft-wide stage has been erected over paddy fields adjacent to NH-12. Seating arrangements for approximately 400 guests have been set up, along with multiple logistical support units typical of a large-scale public rally.

Reports from PTI suggest that organisers have contracted seven catering agencies from Murshidabad, who together are preparing an estimated 40,000 packets of shahi biryani for guests and an additional 20,000 packets for local residents. The close aide of the MLA who shared these details placed the food expenditure alone at more than ₹30 lakh, estimating the total event cost at roughly ₹70 lakh. The conspicuous scale of spending has raised questions in political circles about the funding sources behind the event and the motives driving it.

Alongside these logistical preparations, Kabir’s camp has promoted the expected arrival of two clerics from Saudi Arabia, who, according to organisers, are travelling via a dedicated convoy from Kolkata airport specifically for the ceremony. Such claims, if accurate, signal an attempt to elevate the religious significance of the event and position Kabir as a leader with international religious support. Critics, however, argue that these announcements are intended more for political theatre than substantive religious engagement.

The High Court’s order on Friday played a pivotal role in shaping the final contours of the gathering. In allowing the event to go ahead, the court made it explicitly clear that the onus of ensuring peace and security lies squarely with the state administration. Senior police officers in Murshidabad immediately initiated discreet discussions with Kabir’s team, according to sources quoted by PTI. These backchannel communications were aimed at establishing crowd management protocols, defining the movement of vehicles and personnel, and determining the boundaries within which the event could proceed.

West Bengal Governor C. V. Ananda Bose issued a public appeal ahead of the foundation-laying event, urging residents not to be influenced by “provocative statements or rumours.” He emphasised that the administration must ensure there is “no disturbance anywhere,” especially given the emotive nature of the date and the potential for misinterpretation or political manipulation.

Kabir himself has framed the event not merely as a religious gathering but as a demonstration of political strength at a moment when his relationship with the TMC has fractured beyond repair. On Thursday, the ruling party suspended him for what it described as “communal politics,” a charge rooted in his repeated public claims about constructing a mosque “modelled on the Babri Masjid.” The timing of the event—December 6—has only reinforced the perception that Kabir is pushing a highly symbolic agenda aimed at consolidating a particular support base.

His political journey has been marked by volatility. Once associated with the Congress, then briefly aligned with the BJP before joining the TMC, Kabir has often found himself at the centre of controversies, including past showcause notices for inflammatory remarks. His announcement that he intends to resign as MLA and launch his own political outfit later this month adds yet another twist to his trajectory. His critics see the current event as a calculated attempt to assert his independence and build momentum for his new organisation.

Beyond the politics, however, the situation on the ground has remained a matter of genuine concern for law enforcement. December 6 carries deep historical and communal sensitivities in India. Any event invoking the Babri Masjid, especially one described as “Babri Masjid-style,” risks being read not only through a religious lens but also through the prism of long-standing political fault lines. In such a context, the state administration’s focus on maintaining order reflects both caution and the awareness that even minor disturbances can escalate quickly.

As the foundation-laying ceremony proceeds, attention will remain fixed on how the administration manages the situation and whether Kabir’s high-profile assertion of support and cooperation from the police holds true in practice. The broader political implications will likely continue to unfold in the days ahead, especially as Kabir prepares to formalise his break from the TMC and test the viability of his own political platform.

For now, Murshidabad stands at the intersection of religious symbolism, political ambition, administrative vigilance, and public anxiety—an uneasy convergence shaped by history, shaped by the present climate, and shaped by the contentious decision of one suspended MLA to stage a headline-grabbing show of strength on one of the most sensitive dates in India’s contemporary memory.