Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Agnimitra Paul Defends Park Street Footpath Action Amid Outrage
Agnimitra Paul saw a woman boiling milk on a pavement in Kolkata.
She said the woman’s baby was crawling close to traffic and could have been hurt.
Some opposition parties and citizens thought Paul treated the poor woman unfairly.
Paul said she was trying to keep people safe and make the city cleaner.
She also said blocked pavements and traffic problems might make investors avoid the state.
Paul argued that past governments had not helped the family either.
Mohammad Salim said BJP representatives were acting arrogantly toward people.
The disagreement is about public safety, treatment of pavement-dwellers and how leaders should speak to citizens.
Agnimitra Paul defended reprimanding a woman boiling milk on a Park Street pavement.
Paul said unsafe footpath conditions, traffic and encroachments could discourage investors from coming to the state.
She said a six-month-old child was crawling near passing vehicles without supervision.
Opposition parties and citizens criticized Paul, while she accused them of ignoring the poor and public safety.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary Mohammad Salim called BJP ministers and MLAs arrogant and feudal.
- Who
- State urban development minister and BJP leader Agnimitra Paul, the pavement-dwelling family, opposition critics and Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary Mohammad Salim.
- What
- Paul defended her criticism of a woman boiling milk on a Park Street pavement and linked footpath conditions to public safety and investment.
- When
- Paul’s inspection took place on Saturday afternoon, and she released her response video after two days of backlash.
- Where
- Park Street in Kolkata, with Paul also referring to the family’s stated home in Dhapa.
- Why
- Paul said the pavement situation posed a risk to the child and other pedestrians and could damage the state’s image with investors; critics objected to her conduct and remarks.
Critics and Opposition
Agnimitra Paul and Government Supporters
Treatment of the pavement-dwelling woman
Critics and Opposition
Opposition parties and some citizens criticized Paul after she reprimanded the woman who was boiling milk on the pavement.
Agnimitra Paul and Government Supporters
Paul said the criticism was unwarranted and argued that her intervention addressed a potentially dangerous situation.
Public safety and footpath use
Critics and Opposition
Critics focused on the minister’s treatment of a poor pavement-dwelling family and her public remarks.
Agnimitra Paul and Government Supporters
Paul said the child was crawling unsupervised near traffic and that pavements must remain clear for pedestrians and schoolchildren.
Impact on investment
Critics and Opposition
The opposition response portrayed Paul’s conduct and the government’s approach as inappropriate and arrogant.
Agnimitra Paul and Government Supporters
Paul argued that encroached pavements, poor roads, missing flyovers and traffic jams could discourage investors from outside and inside the country.
- Official involved
- Agnimitra Paul, the state urban development minister and a BJP leader.
- Location
- Park Street, Kolkata.
- Incident
- A woman was boiling milk on a kerosene stove on a busy pavement.
- Child mentioned
- Paul said the woman’s child was about six months old and crawling near vehicles.
- Minister’s concern
- Paul cited pavement encroachment, illegal parking, traffic jams and safety risks.
- Political criticism
- Mohammad Salim described BJP ministers and MLAs as arrogant and feudal in their attitude.
- Government proposal
- Paul said the government was discussing slum development and rehabilitation with chambers of commerce.