New Delhi [India], December 7 (ANI): BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Sunday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the Babri Masjid foundation stone laid by Humayun Kabir, asserting that 'Babar defamed Islam and sowed misunderstandings between Muslims and Hindus'.

The BJP leader accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of 'promoting polarisation' and 'playing vote bank politics' in West Bengal.

Speaking to ANI, Hussain said, 'TMC wants to destroy the environment in West Bengal. On one hand, they oust Humayun Kabir and on the other hand, it is all happening on TMC's directives. TMC wants polarisation and to play vote bank politics in the state. There is no stopping in the country but who do they want to instigate by making it in the name of Babar? What is the relation with a foreign invader Babar? Babar defamed Islam and sowed misunderstandings between Muslims and Hindus in the country, so he cannot be ideal for anyone.'

Hussain also reacted to a similar announcement regarding the Babri Masjid in Hyderabad by Mushtaq Malik, calling him 'an unknown person of Hyderabad' seeking publicity.

He added, 'He (Mushtaq Malik) is an unknown person of Hyderabad and wants publicity. If he wants to build a memorial for Babar, he can do so at his home and stay in a slum himself.'

The BJP leader's remarks come a day after suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir laid the foundation stone for the construction of Babri Masjid in Murshidabad, amid widespread criticism.

Kabir had drawn attention to the constitutional right to build places of worship and said that he is not doing anything unconstitutional, 'as anyone can make a temple or church, so can I'.

Meanwhile, Bihar president Dilip Jaiswal also reacted to the Babri Masjid foundation and said that while anyone can build a mosque in India, 'no one has the right to spoil the atmosphere of the country,' and those who are attempting to damage the strong democracy and the 'Ganga-Jamuni' relationship of the country cannot progress in their life.

'Anyone can build a mosque; no one is prohibited from doing so because temples and mosques are centres of faith for any religion. But no one has the right to spoil the atmosphere of this country. Those attempting to create such an environment cannot progress by damaging this strong democracy and the Ganga-Jamuni relationship in this country,' the Bihar BJP chief told ANI. (ANI)