Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir has been suspended from the party after insisting he would lay the foundation stone of a mosque modelled on the Babri Masjid on 6 December in Murshidabad — a move that triggered political tensions, security concerns and a rebuke from senior TMC leadership. Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim confirmed the suspension on Thursday, saying the party had previously cautioned Kabir about his statements.
Why was Humayun Kabir suspended from the TMC?
Announcing the disciplinary action, Firhad Hakim said: “We noticed that one of our MLAs from Murshidabad suddenly declared that he would build the Babri Masjid. Why suddenly Babri Masjid? We already warned him. As per the decision of our party, TMC, we are suspending MLA Humayun Kabir.”
Kabir’s announcement of a 6 December shilanyas — the anniversary of the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid — was seen as a politically charged move, especially in a district with a high minority population. His choice of date also clashed with the TMC’s observance of Sanghati Dibas, an anti-communal day of remembrance.
The Calcutta High Court will hear a public interest litigation on Friday concerning Kabir’s remarks, with the matter listed before the Chief Justice’s Division Bench.
Humayun Kabir To Resign from TMC, announce new party
Humayun Kabir on Thursday said that he will resign from the party tomorrow, and might even announce his own party on December 22.
“I will resign from TMC tomorrow. If required, I will announce a new party on December 22,” the suspended party leader told reporters here.
Kabir said that he had been summoned by the party district president for the meeting.
“I have come here for a meeting with the district president, will give a reaction later. But I have been suspended from the party, not as an MLA, let the meeting happen first,” he told reporters here.
What exactly did Kabir declare — and why did it spark tensions?
Defying both Raj Bhavan and the TMC leadership, Kabir reiterated on Wednesday that he would proceed with the foundation-laying ceremony in Beldanga.
He warned that any attempt to halt the event would provoke large-scale mobilisation:
“If the administration tries to stop us, the highway from Rejinagar to Beharampur will be blocked. My message is simple — don’t play with fire.”
Kabir insisted his programme was protected “under constitutional rights” and claimed it could draw “lakhs” of supporters. He also said 2,000 volunteers would be present to ensure “no inconvenience to any community,” adding mysteriously that there would be “a surprise” at the event.
His comments came after the Governor, CV Ananda Bose, wrote to the state government expressing concerns about possible law-and-order disturbances. Kabir called the letter “baseless”, “politically coloured” and “outside constitutional discipline”.
“He is not an elected person. Law and order is the state government’s responsibility. His fear is meaningless, his advice unnecessary,” he said.
Posters announcing the foundation stone ceremony had appeared across Beldanga earlier in the week before being torn down, adding to local tension.
How has the Murshidabad administration responded?
The Murshidabad administration has not granted permission for the event. Officials said a law-and-order review was ongoing.
Police sources described the symbolism of the “Babri Masjid” label as “high-risk”, given that “even a peaceful ceremony can become a flashpoint depending on who tries to appropriate or oppose it.”
How are political parties reacting?
The TMC publicly downplayed Kabir’s plans, but internal discomfort was apparent.
State minister and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind leader Siddiqullah Chowdhury said:
“Muslim issues will not be solved by calling or laying the foundation stone of a mosque after Babri Masjid. Islamic scholars will decide the name. This looks like an attempt to attract attention by stirring emotions.”
The BJP accused the ruling party of enabling Kabir’s provocation.
State BJP leader Keya Ghosh said:
“The TMC wants communal tension. They are letting him escalate the situation deliberately to serve their interests of polarisation ahead of elections.”
The CPI(M) took aim at political opportunism across parties.
Saikat Giri of the CPI(M) remarked: “One leader (Suvendu Adhikari) was in TMC till 2020, now in BJP calling for Hindu mobilisation. Another was in BJP (Kabir) till 2019, now in TMC calling Muslims to unite behind him. This is Bengal’s revolving-door politics.”
Who is Humayun Kabir — and why has he clashed with the TMC before?
Kabir’s political history is marked by frequent shifts. A former Congress leader and close aide to Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, he joined the TMC in 2012 and briefly served as Animal Resources Development Minister. He lost the Rejinagar bypoll in 2013, forcing his exit from the cabinet.
He was expelled from the TMC for six years in 2015. At the time, then secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said:
“Humayun Kabir, who was already served showcause, was expelled from the party for six years for continuing to make anti-party statements.”
Kabir responded: “It was inevitable as they did not like my comments. The truth is always unpalatable.”
Recently, he reignited controversy by accusing senior TMC leader Indranil Sen of extortion and alleging that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was grooming her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, to succeed her. He had predicted “a lot of defection from the party”.
TMC leaders in Murshidabad say Kabir has long behaved like a “free agent”, ignoring repeated warnings — making this week’s suspension the culmination of years of friction.
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