Donations for the proposed Babri Masjid-style mosque announced by suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir have crossed ₹1.30 crore, leaders close to the legislator claimed on Monday, even as the project continues to fuel political and alleged communal tensions in poll-bound West Bengal.
According to those overseeing the collection, ₹37.33 lakh in cash has been counted so far from four large donation boxes and one sack, while online contributions through QR codes have touched ₹93 lakh. They added that seven more sealed donation boxes are yet to be opened.
Foundation Laid on December 6 Amid Tight Security
Kabir laid the foundation stone of the mosque at Rejinagar in Murshidabad on Saturday, deliberately choosing December 6, the anniversary of the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. The timing injected fresh political heat into an already polarised atmosphere ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.
The ceremony was held under unprecedented security arrangements and drew tens of thousands of people, with elaborate preparations in place. Shahi biryani was served to around 40,000 attendees, according to organisers.
On the same day, 11 large stainless-steel donation boxes were placed at the venue, with Kabir openly appealing for public contributions towards the mosque’s construction.
Cash Counting Goes Past Midnight, Live-Streamed for Transparency
Local sources said cash counting began at 7 pm on Sunday and continued till midnight, handled by a team of 30 people using special counting machines. The remaining seven sealed boxes are scheduled to be opened from 5 pm on Monday, with the same team overseeing the process.
Kabir said the entire counting exercise was live-streamed to ensure transparency. He claimed that the donation response had “exceeded all expectations”, with contributions allegedly also coming in from outside India.
Arrangements are now being made to shift the collected money to a secured room with CCTV surveillance, while discussions are underway with banks for its safe handling.
Supporters Continue to Bring Cash and Bricks
Even after the foundation ceremony, supporters have continued to arrive at the site with cash and even bricks for the structure, locals said. This, they added, reflects the deep emotive pull of the project, which has rapidly evolved into a major religious and political flashpoint in the district.
A former Congress MLA who joined the Trinamool Congress in 2012, briefly crossed over to the BJP and then returned to the ruling party in 2020, Humayun Kabir has built a reputation for political turbulence and theatrics.
He was suspended by the TMC just days before the foundation ceremony, as the party moved to distance itself from his controversial December 6 announcement. The decision came around the time Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Murshidabad for a rally against the voter list revision exercise, following which Kabir walked out of the venue in protest.
New Party Announcement, 135 Seats in Sight
After his suspension, Kabir announced that he would launch a new political party on December 22 and field candidates in 135 Assembly constituencies in the upcoming West Bengal elections. He has also reiterated that the Rejinagar mosque will be constructed “at any cost”.
With donations steadily rising and political temperatures already high, the mosque project is fast becoming one of the most closely watched flashpoints in pre-election Bengal.
