Saudi clerics, 40,000 biryanis, 20,000 locals: Humayun Kabir’s ‘Babri Mosque’ event at noon; suspended MLA thanks 'police for support'
Times of India | 6 December 2025
KOLKATA: Security has been stepped up in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, ahead of a controversial foundation-laying event planned by suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir.
On Saturday, Kabir told reporters, "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."
Residents and volunteers have begun preparations for the event. Safiqul Islam, from Uttar Barasat, was seen carrying bricks, saying his efforts were part of contributing to the mosque’s construction.
Kabir is expected to attend the ceremony, alongside roughly 2,000 volunteers helping organise the event.
Beldanga in Murshidabad district was transformed into a massive worksite on Friday.
Kabir, suspended by the ruling party on Thursday for repeatedly embarrassing the TMC, appeared unfazed by either political fallout or administrative scrutiny.
"Nearly 3 lakh people will gather across 25 bighas near Moradighi on Saturday," Kabir told reporters, adding that religious leaders from several states had confirmed their presence.
"Two qazis from Saudi Arabia will arrive in a special convoy from Kolkata airport in the morning," he said.
Preparations at the sprawling venue off NH-12, the district’s main north-south highway, included contracting seven catering agencies to cook shahi biryani for the crowd.
Organisers said around 40,000 meal packets were being prepared for guests and another 20,000 for local residents, pushing food costs above Rs 30 lakh. Overall, the venue budget is expected to reach Rs 60-70 lakh.
The dais, rising over the paddy fields, measures 150 feet long and 80 feet wide and will seat around 400 guests. The stage is estimated to cost Rs 10 lakh. Nearly 3,000 volunteers, including 2,000 who began work on Friday, will manage crowd movement, regulate access roads and prevent traffic bottlenecks.
Kabir said the ceremony will begin with Quran recitation at 10 am, followed by the foundation event at noon. "Formalities will start two hours earlier. By 4 pm, the ground will be cleared as per police directives," he added.
The administration has expressed concerns over the size of the expected congregation. Following a Calcutta High Court directive, district police held discussions with Kabir’s team to ensure public order and uninterrupted movement along NH-12. Nearly 3,000 personnel are expected to be deployed in Beldanga and Raninagar jurisdictions.
"Our primary concern is keeping the national highway running. Extra forces have arrived from the headquarters. Multiple diversion plans are in place," a senior officer said.
Officials noted that crowd control and potential highway congestion remain the biggest challenges. Saturday’s event is seen as a test of both mobilisation and Kabir’s political influence in a region where religion, symbolism and politics often intersect.
"People will come because this is a historic moment for the area," Kabir said, brushing aside political ripples and the heavy security presence.