Identity Mix-up: Mosque Fundraiser by One Humayun Kabir Floods Namesake MLA With 200 Donation Calls

Online donations via QR codes have already reached Rs 93 lakh for the mosque project.

In an unusual case of mistaken identity within West Bengal politics, one Humayun Kabir initiated the foundation for a Babri Masjid-style mosque in Murshidabad, while another Humayun Kabir, located 200 km away in Paschim Medinipore's Debra, received approximately 200 donation calls intended for his suspended namesake.

When the suspended Trinamool Congress MLA requested donations for the proposed mosque at Beldanga in Murshidabad's Rejinagar area on Saturday, he never anticipated that his appeal would create confusion across districts, repeatedly directing callers to his unsuspecting party colleague who shares his name.

For two consecutive days, the Debra legislator's phone has been constantly ringing with calls from unknown individuals across various states, all with the same request: requesting a QR code to contribute to the mosque project.

"I've experienced a challenging week handling non-stop calls and messages meant for Murshidabad's Humayun Kabir. It's clearly a case of mistaken identity," the former IPS officer and current Debra MLA explained to PTI.

"Almost every caller wants to send money for the Murshidabad mosque. I repeatedly have to explain that I'm not the Humayun Kabir from Murshidabad. We're different individuals, though we were both TMC MLAs until his suspension last week," he clarified.

The Debra MLA reported receiving calls from multiple states including Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai, Haryana, Rajasthan, and even from foreign countries.

"I typically answer all unknown numbers. In just the past 48 hours, I've probably received close to 200 such calls," said the Debra MLA, who left his distinguished police career to enter politics in 2021.

While maintaining that he wasn't irritated by the situation, the TMC MLA acknowledged it had become somewhat awkward.

"I politely direct them to find the correct number and contact the other Humayun Kabir directly," added the former cabinet minister.

The Debra MLA also used Facebook to clarify his identity, later posting a message stating, "Temples and mosques are not arenas for political wrestling, but spaces for prayer and worship."

Meanwhile, the fundraising effort in Beldanga has gained remarkable momentum.

According to associates of the suspended Bharatpur MLA, 11 large stainless steel donation boxes were positioned at the venue on Saturday. By Sunday evening, four boxes and one sack of cash were opened and counted, yielding Rs 37.33 lakh in physical donations alone.

Online contributions through QR codes have reportedly reached Rs 93 lakh so far. The remaining seven sealed donation boxes are scheduled to be opened and counted on Monday afternoon, with approximately 30 individuals continuing the counting process.

The suspended MLA has suggested that the total collection for the mosque construction could potentially exceed several crore rupees.

As funds accumulate for the proposed mosque in Murshidabad, the other Humayun Kabir in Debra continues fielding and redirecting misdirected donation calls, creating an unexpected and somewhat comical subplot in Bengal's political landscape.