Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim on Thursday announced that Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir has been suspended from the party for whole life.
“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,” Hakim said.
The Calcutta High Court is set to hear on Friday a public interest litigation linked to the TMC MLA’s remarks about rebuilding the Babri Masjid. The case will come up before the Chief Justice’s Division Bench.
Significantly, Kabir has spent more time outside the Mamata Banerjee-led party than within it.
Humayun Kabir was earlier suspended from the Trinamool Congress for six years in 2015 for issuing anti-party statements.
Humayun Kabir had announced that on December 6, he would lay the foundation stone for the "Babri Masjid" in Beldanga. He had warned that if anyone tried to stop the work, the national highway from Raninagar to Berhampore would be blocked on December 6. Not just that, he was also heard threatening the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO).
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The BJP strongly criticised the incident. The Trinamool leadership was also deeply uncomfortable with the comments made by the party’s MLA. In the words of a senior leader, “Our party chief, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee repeatedly stress practising secular politics. In that context, such remarks go against the party’s position.”
Governor takes a stand
Governor CV Ananda Bose also reacted strongly to Humayun’s comments. Sources say he sent a letter to the state, mentioning the possibility of arresting Humayun Kabir, citing concerns that the MLA’s remarks could deteriorate the law-and-order situation. The Governor stated that if Humayun’s comments led to a breakdown in law and order, he must be preventively arrested. In response, Humayun warned, “The Governor is speaking beyond his authority.”
Trinamool’s major announcement
Amid the political storm triggered by these remarks, Trinamool decided on Thursday to suspend him. Speaking on behalf of the party, Firhad Hakim said, “All communities live together in Bengal. This unity is Bengal’s culture. Trinamool Congress is a secular party. Suddenly, one of our colleagues claimed he would build the Babri Masjid. The Babri Masjid was built by Babur in Ayodhya. Why should it be in Bengal? We have no objection if anyone builds a temple or a mosque in Bengal. But building a mosque in this manner leads to religious extremism. If a mosque has to be built, why wasn’t it done under some other name!”
He blamed the BJP, saying, “The BJP has played a politics of division. I believe Humayun said this under the BJP’s instructions.” Hakim added that the party’s disciplinary committee had warned Humayun three times before. However, he refused to comment on the Governor’s message.
What exactly did Humayun Kabir say?
He reacted strongly to Firhad Hakim’s press conference. Humayun Kabir said, “I don’t consider Firhad Hakim to be a Trinamool leader. As a Trinamool leader, I only recognise Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. They have not said anything to me. I will not respond to whatever Bobby Hakim is saying.”
