The BJP’s Murshidabad unit in West Bengal has unveiled plans to construct a Ram temple in Berhampore, following a recent proposal by TMC MLA Humayun Kabir to build a mosque modeled after the Babri Masjid in Beldanga, a town in the same district.
The BJP has confirmed that the construction of the temple will begin on January 22, 2025, marking one year after the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Shakharav Sarkar, the BJP’s Berhampore organizational district president, stated that land for the temple has already been identified, with an estimated cost of ₹10 crore for the project.“
We have already identified a plot of land in Berhampore, and construction for the Ram Temple, based on the design of the Ayodhya temple, will begin soon,” Sarkar told reporters.
The controversy erupted after Kabir, the TMC MLA from Beldanga, proposed the mosque project earlier this week. He argued that the mosque would reflect the sentiments of the area’s large minority population. His remarks have sparked political debates, with the opposition accusing him of attempting to create divisions for electoral gain.
The BJP’s response, a proposal to build a Ram temple, is seen as an effort to consolidate its influence among Hindus in Murshidabad, a district where nearly 75% of the population belongs to the minority community.
In response to the backlash, the TMC distanced itself from Kabir’s statement, labeling it as his personal opinion. “The TMC has nothing to do with this statement of Kabir,” said a senior party leader.
Kabir’s announcement has also faced criticism from the Congress, which has accused him of indulging in divisive politics in a sensitive region.
