Bengal minister admonishes homeless woman for boiling milk on Kolkata pavement, faces backlash

West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul faced significant backlash after admonishing a homeless woman for boiling milk on a pavement in Kolkata. Paul, who is responsible for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, was conducting an inspection in Park Street area when he saw the woman heating milk on the street. When she explained that she was only warming milk for her child, Paul criticized her presence on the pavement, demanding she remove her belongings.

The video sparked outrage, with the Left-leaning women's organization AIDWA condemning Paul's behavior as inhumane. They argued that Paul, as a public representative, should show empathy towards marginalized individuals, particularly in the context of economic inequality and government policies exacerbating the issue. A TMC MLA, Kunal Ghosh, also criticized Paul, emphasizing the need for a humane approach in addressing the issue.

The woman in question, Rashida, shared her tragic story of living on the pavement with her children, having lost her husband and faced abandonment by one of her daughters. She expressed her distress at the prospect of losing her living situation due to Paul's intervention. Paul defended his actions, stating that encroaching on pavements is unsafe, but his response was met with widespread disapproval.