On October 17, 2025, Trinamool Congress MP and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan shared photos on X. He was standing in front of the 14th-century Adina Mosque in Malda, West Bengal.
In his post, he praised the mosque’s “architectural grandeur.” He noted that it was built by Sultan Sikandar Shah of the Ilyas Shahi dynasty. However, his post sparked backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They claimed, without providing any evidence, that the mosque was constructed on the site of a demolished Hindu temple.
BJP leaders have long claimed that the Adina Mosque was built on the site of the Adinath Temple. In 2022, a BJP figure asserted that the temple lies underneath the mosque.
Correction: Adinath Temple ✅ https://t.co/mjFzqO7gnP
— BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) October 17, 2025In 2024, a Hindu worshipper tried to perform rituals inside the mosque but was stopped and faced legal consequences. Recently, a lawyer submitted a plea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, requesting permission for Hindu worship at the site, further escalating tensions.
Pathan, a Lok Sabha member and part of India’s 2007 T20 and 2011 ODI World Cup teams, represents Trinamool Congress. His post reignites debates over historical sites, mirroring the BJP’s broader narrative about mosques on temple sites.
The controversy highlights India’s religious and political divides, with Pathan’s post fueling cultural debates. For updates, follow The Times of India, NDTV, and Pathan’s social media.
