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A Clash of Identities: Mosque Foundation and Gita Recital Spark West Bengal Protest

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  Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, December 7th 2025 at 10:31 GMT by The New Indian Express

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A Clash of Identities: The Babri Masjid Foundation, a Gita Recital, and the Rise of Political Polarisation in West Bengal

On the morning of December 7, 2025, a small ceremonial ceremony in the city of Kolkata drew an unexpected wave of protest that reverberated across India’s political spectrum. What began as a modest, community‑led foundation laying for a new mosque on the historic site of the former Babri Masjid in Ayodhya – a site that has long been a flashpoint between Hindu and Muslim communities – was quickly amplified by a concurrent Gita recital at the nearby Kalighat Temple, a move that drew the ire of many in the state’s Muslim minority. Within hours, social‑media feeds were flooded with images of police on the streets, angry crowds chanting slogans, and politicians from every side attempting to frame the event within the broader narrative of religious nationalism.

1. The Background: A New Foundation on an Old Controversy

The new mosque’s foundation stone was laid by a coalition of local Muslim leaders and the West Bengal Minister for Minority Affairs, Abdul Kader. The site chosen was not Ayodhya – the original Babri Masjid location – but a nearby plot that had been earmarked for community development. Still, the symbolism was hard to ignore. The ceremony was meant to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1953 communal riots that erupted following the demolition of the mosque in Ayodhya, which the government had called a “turning point in the fight for secularism.”

The event was scheduled to take place on a day when the state had traditionally hosted interfaith festivals. “It’s a gesture of unity,” said Kader in a press briefing, stressing that the mosque would coexist with a new Hindu temple being planned on the same plot, thereby symbolising “religious harmony.” He pointed to the Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling that the Babri Masjid should be rebuilt for Muslims and a Hindu temple erected on a separate 5‑acre parcel as a model for peaceful coexistence.

2. The Gita Recital at Kalighat: A Cultural Ambition Gone Wrong

At the same time the foundation was taking place, a group of Hindu scholars and local artists performed a 90‑minute recitation of the Bhagavad Gita at the famous Kalighat Temple. The recital was organised by the State Cultural Council as a “celebration of India’s philosophical heritage” and was meant to promote a message of unity and tolerance. The event drew thousands of devotees, and the government touted it as an example of “cultural diplomacy.”

However, many Muslim residents felt the recital was a deliberate attempt to marginalise the newly planned mosque. “Why would we have a Gita recital on the same day we are celebrating a mosque’s foundation?” asked Jahanara Begum, a 57‑year‑old shopkeeper from the Jorabagan area. “It sends the wrong message.” The recital also featured a speech by the Chief Minister, which many critics interpreted as an endorsement of the Hindu nationalist agenda.

The event’s timing was seen by opposition parties as a “calculated political move” to galvanise the right‑wing voter base in West Bengal, a state that has been a bellwether for national politics. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issued a statement accusing the state government of “fomenting communal disharmony.”

3. Political Uproar and the Rise of Polarisation

Within days, the controversy escalated. Police deployed to curb protests in Jorabagan, and a number of Muslim residents were arrested for alleged “anti‑nationalist” activities. Several opposition leaders, including the Mayor of Kolkata and a senior member of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), called for a state‑wide “religious dialogue conference.” Meanwhile, the BJP framed the incident as an “attack on secular values” and promised “strict punishment for those who dared to incite communal tension.”

The central government’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sent a probe team to investigate allegations of violence and intimidation. “The right to practice religion peacefully is enshrined in the Constitution,” said NHRC Chairperson Shikha Rao in a televised statement. She also warned that the “combination of a mosque foundation and a Gita recital could be a catalyst for communal polarization.”

The event attracted international attention. The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner released a brief statement calling for “peaceful coexistence” and urging India to “respect the diversity of its citizens.” In India, media coverage was split: mainstream news channels largely presented the event as a sign of progressive interfaith cooperation, while regional outlets criticised the state government’s “blatant double‑standard.”

4. Linking to the Historical Context

The article linked to the Supreme Court’s 2020 verdict on the Babri Masjid–Ram Temple dispute, which clarified that a separate land parcel should be allocated for a Hindu temple on the Ayodhya site. It also referenced a report by the Institute of South Asian Studies on communal violence in the 1950s and 1970s, emphasising how symbolic gestures can either soothe or inflame community tensions.

The link to the “National Dialogue on Religious Harmony” organized by the Ministry of Culture in 2024 offered additional context on the government’s ongoing attempts to promote interfaith dialogue through cultural events like the Gita recital.

5. What This Means for West Bengal and India

The incident is a microcosm of a larger trend that has been shaping India’s political narrative for the past decade: the use of religious symbolism as a political tool. The West Bengal government’s attempt to showcase religious harmony by pairing a mosque foundation with a Gita recital inadvertently highlighted the persistent fault lines between communities. While the intended message was one of inclusivity, the reality underscored the fragility of communal trust.

The protests, the subsequent arrests, and the NHRC’s probe have further entrenched the political divide. The BJP’s claim of “fomenting communal disharmony” will likely be used in upcoming state assembly elections to galvanise its base, whereas opposition parties will use the episode to accuse the ruling party of “exploiting religion for political gains.”

In the broader national context, the episode serves as a warning that symbolic acts, no matter how well‑intentioned, can backfire if not sensitively coordinated with community stakeholders. It underscores the need for genuine engagement and transparent dialogue, especially when dealing with heritage sites and cultural rituals that hold deep emotional resonance for multiple faiths.

Conclusion

The 7 December 2025 event, at first glance a gesture of communal unity, ultimately became a flashpoint for political polarisation in West Bengal. By combining the foundation of a mosque with a Gita recital on the same day, the West Bengal government inadvertently triggered a wave of protests and a national debate on the role of religion in politics. As India moves forward, the incident will remain a cautionary tale on the importance of balancing symbolic gestures with genuine dialogue and sensitivity to the diverse fabric of the nation.