“Sting Operation” Snaps AIMIM – AJUP Tie in West Bengal, Shah, Kabir Claim Sting Video to be “Fake”
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Apr 10: Even as a purported “sting operation” caused eruption of a fresh political storm in the poll-bound West Bengal with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) snapping its ties with the Babri Masjid-fame Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday declared that the BJP would prefer to sit in the opposition for the next 20 years rather being with those who planned to build a replica of Babri Masjid in West Bengal.
The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee can produce 2,000 such videos, Shah claimed, illustrating the contrast between the BJP and Kabir with a simple north-south pole analogy. “You may be unaware of Mamata Ji’s capabilities; she is capable of producing 2000 such videos. Humayun Kabir and the BJP are like the South Pole and the North Pole. We can never align. We would rather sit in the opposition for another 20 years than sit alongside those who build the Babri Masjid in Bengal,” Shah remarked. Earlier, former state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh ridiculed Kabir as someone who does not deserve Rs 100 crore, let alone Rs 1,000 crore.
Mr Shah’s response came to a question on the “sting operation” on suspended Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir. Kabir had shot to limelight last year over his efforts to build a mosque in Bengal, styled after now-demolished Ayodhya’s Babri Masjid.
Just weeks before elections, the ‘sting’ video went viral, in which he is purportedly heard saying he had been in touch with senior BJP leaders and that he had struck a deal worth Rs 1,000 crore to defeat Trinamool. While Trinamool slammed Kabir and BJP over the claims made in the sting, both alleged that this was a fake video being propagated for political gains.
Kabir claimed that the video was generated using AI to malign him. He also threatened to file defamation cases if the Trinamool failed to furnish any proof. “It is an attempt to malign me by Trinamool, who are afraid to lose Muslim votes. They have insulted the community by launching such a fake video, which made light of Muslims’ sentiments by putting certain statements through AI,” he said.
The clarification, however, did little to save his face. The AIMIM, which had extended its support to Kabir’s fledgling party, on Friday morning announced its decision to end its alliance with Kabir’s AJUP and its chief Asaduddin Owaisi cancelled his election campaign in West Bengal for the time being.
Humayun Kabir accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of triggering a conspiracy by circulating the purported sting video. Speaking to reporters in Islampur, Kabir instead claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee enjoyed cordial relations with the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), alleging that the timing of the viral clip indicates a political plot.
He questioned why the December 19 video surfaced months later. “A video from December 19 is being made viral on April 8. What was CM Mamata Banerjee doing all these days? This is a conspiracy… I will answer them in the High Court. Mamata Banerjee shares good relations with the BJP and the RSS. They are doing this together against me,” Kabir alleged.
The political turbulence deepened after the AIMIM withdrew its alliance with Kabir’s party. When questioned about AIMIM’s move, Kabir declined to comment and said reporters should seek answers from AIMIM.
Kabir has been in the spotlight ever since he announced plans for constructing a Babri Masjid and performed a foundation stone ceremony in Murshidabad. The move led to his suspension and later expulsion from the TMC, after which he floated his regional outfit.
Earlier in the day, AIMIM confirmed it was severing ties with Kabir following the TMC’s release of a video in which the AJUP chief purportedly mentioned a deal worth Rs 1,000 crore. AIMIM said it raised concerns about the “integrity of Muslims” and declared that it “cannot associate with any statements where the integrity of Muslims is brought into question.” The party also criticised the socio-economic conditions of Muslims in West Bengal and termed the community “one of the poorest, neglected and oppressed.” However, Kabir firmly denied all allegations and insisted the video was generated using artificial intelligence.
The row intensified as TMC MLA Arindam Guin targeted Kabir and called him a “traitor.” He also accused him of aligning with the BJP to divide Muslim votes ahead of the upcoming assembly polls.
