Muslims have constitutional right to build Babri Masjid: JD(U) MP Kaushalendra Kumar
Nalanda, Bihar: Janata Dal (United) MP Kaushalendra Kumar on Monday expressed support for Humayun Kabir, the suspended Trinamool Congress MLA from West Bengal, who recently laid the foundation stone for a “Babri Masjid” in Murshidabad district. His remarks were reported by PTI.
Speaking to journalists in his Nalanda parliamentary constituency, the JD(U) leader said the Constitution grants every citizen the right to practice and propagate their religion, and therefore “nobody should have a problem” if building such a mosque aligns with the sentiments of Muslims.
Kaushalendra Kumar’s statement comes despite the JD(U) being an ally of the BJP both in Bihar and at the Centre. He distanced himself from the BJP’s stance that constructing a mosque in the memory of Babur would be akin to honouring an “invader” who later established the Mughal empire in India.
“I have not seen Babur and do not have much idea of what he stood for. But we have been following the Constitution since Independence, which guarantees the right to freedom of religion,” he said.
When asked about the BJP’s strong opposition to the proposed mosque in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, the MP countered that the political situation was being misrepresented.
He argued that it was West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who acted against a Muslim leader “for voicing his religious sentiments,” referring to Kabir’s suspension by the TMC over the mosque foundation event.
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Pressure mounts for cabinet rejig in Karnataka, Cong MLAs to meet high command in Delhi
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Bengaluru (PTI): Pressure is mounting within the ruling Congress in Karnataka for a cabinet reshuffle, as a group of senior legislators will travel to New Delhi to meet the party high command and urge them to give opportunities to fresh faces.
According to party sources, a group of senior MLAs who have served for over three terms—including T B Jayachandra, the special representative of the Government of Karnataka in New Delhi, and Assembly Chief Whip Ashok Pattan—will travel to Delhi on Sunday. They are likely to meet AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala.
"The Delhi trip is not under anyone's specific leadership. During the recent Assembly session, senior legislators who have won three, four and five times met, held discussions and decided to meet the party leadership to bring certain matters to their notice. Because of the by-elections, it was postponed. Now that Parliament is reconvening and all leaders will be in Delhi, we have unanimously decided to go and meet them. We are going tomorrow and day-after-tomorrow," Jayachandra told reporters on Saturday.
He said, "There are expectations that 40 people may come, some are in their constituencies, and they will somehow come and join. We plan to meet Kharge, Venugopal, and Surjewala. We also plan to meet Rahul Gandhi; preparations are underway. Since so many legislators are going, he may agree to meet us."
Further noting that the Congress government is about to complete three years in office, Jayachandra said, "Several youngsters were given an opportunity during the last three years. We now request that senior legislators with administrative experience be considered during the reshuffle. That's our main intention."
This group of senior Congress legislators, who have served as MLAs for over three terms, met Siddaramaiah last month and urged him to rejig his cabinet to give them an opportunity to serve as ministers.
After meeting the CM, the group of about 40 legislators said they would go to New Delhi together after the April 9 bypolls, to meet the Congress high command and request inclusion of at least 20 of them in the reshuffle.
Ahead of meeting the CM, the group of aspirants met over dinner and discussed.
Some first and second-time legislators have also recently pressed for a cabinet reshuffle.
The demand for a cabinet reshuffle has come to the fore amid the ongoing power tussle within the ruling party over the CM post.
According to party sources, while Siddaramaiah favours a cabinet reshuffle, Shivakumar wants the party to first decide on the leadership change.
According to several party insiders, if the Congress high command approves the cabinet reshuffle, it would signal that the incumbent chief minister Siddaramaiah will complete the full five-year term, which will scuttle the chances of Shivakumar from occupying the coveted post.
Karnataka has a sanctioned strength of 34 ministers, including the chief minister.
Two cabinet berths are currently vacant—following the resignation of B Nagendra over allegations of embezzlement at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation, and the sacking of K N Rajanna on the instructions of the party high command.
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