Hyderabad Muslims Plan Memorial for Demolished Babri Masjid, Amid Controversy Over Replica in Bengal

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A Muslim organization in Hyderabad is set to build a memorial dedicated to the Babri Masjid, a mosque demolished in 1992, along with welfare facilities. The announcement comes as a suspended TMC MLA in West Bengal laid the foundation stone for a Babri Masjid-style structure, sparking criticism from the BJP. The memorial in Hyderabad will be built to honor the 33rd anniversary of the mosque's demolition, which was observed on December 6. Tahreek Muslim Shabban president Mushtaq Malik said the memorial will include welfare institutions such as a hospital, guesthouse, and meeting hall. Malik dismissed criticism over the name of the mosque, saying it was rooted in propaganda. He pointed to Mughal-era practices that promoted religious coexistence, emphasizing that the debate was an attempt to divide the country. The announcement coincides with controversy over a replica of the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad, West Bengal. The BJP has hit out at the suspended TMC MLA, Humayun Kabir, accusing the West Bengal government of enabling polarization. Kabir defended his move, saying he was within his rights to build a mosque and that the project has a budget of ₹300 crore. The construction of the memorial in Hyderabad and the replica in Bengal have reignited a debate over the legacy of Babur, the Mughal emperor who built the original mosque. While some see it as a symbol of Muslim heritage, others view it as a reminder of a bygone era of Indian history.