Kolkata: A massive wave of public contributions for a proposed Babri Masjid–style mosque in Murshidabad has ignited a fresh political battle in poll-bound West Bengal. Within just 48 hours of the foundation stone being laid, donations for suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir’s Rejinagar mosque project have surged past ₹2.85 crore, creating a new flashpoint in the state’s charged political atmosphere.
Monday marked the second consecutive day of opening donation boxes placed at Kabir’s Shakti Nagar residence, where a 30-member team counted contributions late into the night. On Sunday, the team logged ₹37.33 lakh, followed by ₹38.34 lakh on Monday, bringing the counted cash from donation boxes alone to ₹75.67 lakh.
Meanwhile, contributions through bank accounts have exceeded ₹2.10 crore, pushing the overall tally sharply upward. Officials said seven sealed donation boxes are still untouched, and the counting will continue throughout Monday evening using electronic counting machines under strict supervision.
The project has grown into one of the most talked-about religious and political events in the region. Kabir laid the foundation stone on December 6 — the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition — under heavy police deployment. His choice of date immediately triggered fierce reactions from political opponents and intensified communal anxieties in the district.
Kabir, whose political journey has spanned Congress, Trinamool Congress, a brief stint in the BJP and then a return to TMC, was suspended by the ruling party just days before the ceremony. The tension deepened when he walked out of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s rally in protest, accusing the party of sidelining him. Hours later, he declared that he would form a new political outfit on December 22 and field candidates in 135 assembly seats.
Despite the controversy, the foundation event drew an estimated 40,000 people, with large-scale arrangements including the serving of shahi biryani and the installation of 11 oversized steel donation boxes. Since then, supporters have been arriving with cash, offerings, and even bricks for the proposed mosque.
Kabir said the counting process is being live-streamed to maintain transparency and added that contributions have begun arriving from outside India as well. Officials are preparing to store the collected cash in a high-security room equipped with CCTV, and discussions with local banks are underway for safe deposit and processing.
