Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan has found himself at the centre of a political and social storm in West Bengal after a social media post about the 14th-century Adina Mosque in Malda sparked outrage among several sections online.

In a post shared on X , Pathan described the Adina Mosque as “a historic mosque built in the 14th century by Sultan Sikandar Shah, the second ruler of the Ilyas Shahi dynasty,” noting that it was “the largest mosque in the Indian subcontinent during its time” and a symbol of “the region’s architectural grandeur.”

However, the remark quickly drew criticism, with social media users accusing the first-time MP of ignoring the alleged temple origins of the structure. Several users cited historical references suggesting that the mosque was constructed over a Hindu temple, reigniting a long-standing controversy surrounding the monument.

The Adina Mosque, located in Pandua, Malda, has been a recurring flashpoint in recent years. In 2023, a group of priests led by Hiranmoy Goswami, president of the Vishwavidya Trust in Vrindavan, performed Hindu rituals inside the complex after reportedly discovering carvings resembling Hindu deities. Their actions prompted police intervention following complaints from local residents. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) subsequently lodged a case against Goswami for unauthorised religious activity at a protected heritage site.

Following the incident, authorities sealed the monument temporarily, installing CCTV cameras and establishing a police check-post to prevent further unrest. The site remains under the ASI’s protection and is classified as a monument of national importance.

While Pathan has not issued a statement responding to the backlash, his post has intensified political debate in the state, with critics accusing him of being insensitive to local sentiments. Supporters, however, have defended his message as an appreciation of Bengal’s architectural legacy.

According to the ASI’s official records, the Adina Mosque—built around 1369 CE—remains “the most remarkable existing example of Muslim architecture” from that era, continuing to stand as both a historic and contentious landmark in Bengal’s cultural landscape.(With inputs from Agencies)