JD-U MP says Muslims have right to build Babri Masjid
Nalanda (India): Janata Dal (United) Member of Lok Sabha, lower house of Indian Parliament, from Nalanda, Bihar state of India, Kaushalendra Kumar has strongly defended suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir’s decision to construct a mosque modelled on the demolished Babri Masjid in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Kaushalendra Kumar speaking to reporters in Nalanda asserted that the Indian Constitution grants every community equal religious rights.
“Muslims have full right to build the Babri Masjid again. The Constitution gives equal rights to all religions; no one should object,” Kumar said.
He emphasised Article 25, which guarantees freedom to practise and propagate religion, adding, “If this mosque aligns with Muslim sentiments, nobody should have a problem.” When reminded of the BJP’s sharp criticism—labelling the proposed mosque an attempt to honour “invader” Babur—Kumar distanced himself, saying, “I have neither seen Babur nor do I know much about him. We only follow the Constitution that has been in force since Independence.”
In a surprising twist, the JD-U leader turned the tables on Mamata Banerjee, claiming it was the West Bengal Chief Minister who had suppressed a Muslim leader for expressing religious sentiments by suspending Kabir from TMC.
Kabir, who represents Bharatpur in Muslim-majority Murshidabad, had laid the foundation stone of the replica mosque on 6 December—the same date the original Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992.
