Kolkata, 9 December (H.S.): Suspended Trinamool Congress MLA from Bharatpur, Humayun Kabir, on Tuesday said he would “very soon” approach the Calcutta High Court seeking enhanced security, claiming he has been receiving repeated death threats over the phone since the recent political storm surrounding the foundation-laying ceremony of a proposed “Babri Masjid” in Murshidabad’s Beldanga.
Kabir said the threats intensified after the December 06 event, adding that he now fears for his life. “Every day I receive threats. They say I will be killed and the mosque will not be allowed to come up. If Naushad Siddiqui can get security, why shouldn’t I? I will move the High Court. For now, I am using private security. I also have an important programme in Bengaluru, so additional protection is essential,” he said.
The controversy erupted after Kabir conducted a “Babri Masjid” foundation ceremony, prompting swift action from the Trinamool Congress, which suspended him the same day. The party said it would not tolerate any attempt to promote communal politics. Senior TMC leader Firhad Hakim even alleged that Kabir was acting in coordination with the BJP—an accusation Kabir has denied.
Opposition parties have also criticised the event, intensifying the political uproar.
Despite mounting criticism, Kabir appears determined to continue with the initiative. At the December 06 programme, he announced that there would be no shortage of funds for constructing the mosque. Since then, his residence in Raninagar has reportedly been receiving large volumes of cash donations.
According to his associates, eleven trunks and several sacks filled with cash have already been collected. On Sunday, four trunks and one sack were opened, revealing such a large quantity of currency notes that machines had to be used for counting. The counting continued late into the night, yielding approximately Rs 38 lakh from those five containers alone. Kabir believes the total amount will rise further as counting is still underway.
In addition to cash, donations have been coming in via QR codes as well, which Kabir claims have so far reached around Rs 93 lakh.
The unfolding situation has created a fresh controversy in West Bengal’s political landscape and is expected to remain a matter of intense debate in the coming days.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
