In a significant move to prioritize student welfare, former TMC MLA Humayun Kabir has temporarily suspended his high-profile “Babri March” (also called the Babri Yatra) across West Bengal. The decision follows a denial of permission by the Malda Police, who cited the ongoing Madhyamik (Class 10) examinations as the primary reason for the restriction.
The police noted that the proposed rally route passed by several schools, and the loud noise and potential law-and-order concerns would have severely disrupted the exams, which are scheduled to conclude on February 12, 2026.
Shift in Strategy: The 22-Kilometre Foot March
While the larger 235-km convoy to Itahar is on hold, Kabir has not called off his activities entirely. Instead, he has pivoted to a localized event:
- The Route: A 22-kilometre march on foot from the Palashi Monument to the site of the Babri Masjid replica in Beldanga.
- Timing: Scheduled for Thursday morning, February 12, 2026.
- Objective: Kabir stated the march is a matter of devotion and “pleasing Allah,” though it remains a point of high political tension.
The “Babri Replica” Controversy
Humayun Kabir, who now heads the Janata Unnayan Party (JUP) after being suspended from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has recently dominated headlines in Bengal with his project to build a replica of the demolished 16th-century mosque in Murshidabad.
- Construction Begins: Work on the replica officially started earlier today. Kabir expects completion within two years.
- Political Backlash: The BJP has criticized the move as “communal polarization,” while the TMC has officially distanced itself from Kabir’s actions to avoid the “outsider/communal” narrative.
- Legal Troubles: A complaint has been filed at the Maidan Police Station in Kolkata, alleging that Kabir is using the project to incite communal unrest ahead of the state’s upcoming political cycles.
“My effort is for Islam… it is not about imposing anything,” Kabir stated at the construction site, defending his constitutional right to build a place of worship.