Homeless Kolkata woman rebuked by Minister Agnimitra Paul gets accommodation, job

In a controversial incident, Bengal's Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul was seen rebuking a homeless woman for boiling milk on the pavement outside her Kolkata home. The video of the incident has since gone viral, sparking criticism and backlash against the minister.

However, the situation took a turn for the better when the Bengal government stepped in to provide accommodation to the woman and her family. Bengal Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul announced that not only had accommodation been arranged for the family, but also a job for the woman as a cleaner at a restaurant. The minister clarified that this arrangement was based on the family's preference for their residence location.

According to a senior BJP leader, the initial response to the incident involved providing three days of food and temporary accommodation to the family after they met with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at his Janatar Darbar program on August 25. Following this, efforts were made to secure permanent accommodation for the family, taking into account their preferred location.

Chief Minister Adhikari had assured the woman that she had faith in the current administration. The video had initially led to accusations against the minister for her actions, with opposition parties criticizing her for reprimanding the woman in public. However, TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh intervened and met with the family to address the situation.

Even Mamata Banerjee, the former Chief Minister, criticized the BJP government over the controversy, stating that a mother boiling milk for her child should not be left without shelter. She emphasized the importance of providing support to those in need and criticized the BJP for their perceived indifference towards such matters.

Despite the initial backlash, Bengal's Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul defended her actions, stating that the people had voted for a clean city that would attract investors.