Eid couldn't get an hour, Yoga Day gets a week: Mahua Moitra on Red Road closure
"Not one hour for Eid prayers, but a whole week for Yoga Day celebrations." That is the latest charge by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra
"Not one hour for Eid prayers, but a whole week for Yoga Day celebrations." That is the latest charge by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra against the newly elected BJP government in West Bengal. Moitra on Thursday questioned the closure of Kolkata's iconic Red Road for International Day of Yoga events, asking why Eid prayers could not be held there for "one hour for one day" while the same stretch was being shut to traffic for nearly a week ahead of the June 21 celebrations. Read Full Story In a post on X, Moitra also took aim at fellow Trinamool MPs Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahman and Yusuf Pathan, challenging them to raise the issue with their "paymasters", days after several party MPs were linked to reports of a possible switch to the NDA.
"Eid prayers could not be held for 1 hour for 1 day on Red Road but same Red Road closed to traffic for a week for Yoga Divas. Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahman, Yusuf Pathan - have guts to ask your paymasters this question," she wrote. Her remarks come at a time when the Trinamool is grappling with an internal crisis, with several MPs reportedly exploring a breakaway from the party. Moitra has emerged as former West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's staunchest public defender and has repeatedly targeted those accused of wavering in their loyalty to the party leadership. Her latest attack also holds significance because Yusuf Pathan's name has figured prominently in reports of a possible rebellion within the Trinamool parliamentary party.
Earlier this week, MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claimed that as many as 20 of the party's 28 MPs were interested in joining the NDA. She included Pathan among those allegedly considering a switch, prompting a sharp response from Moitra. "Our district voted you in by a huge margin. Have some shame and some spine," Moitra had said, accusing Pathan of abandoning the people who elected him. She also alleged that the former India cricketer had rushed to Delhi after being summoned by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Pathan has not publicly responded to the allegations or clarified his political future. Moitra's post came days after the West Bengal government directed all state government employees, including contractual staff, casual workers, outsourced personnel and honorarium-based workers, to participate in programmes marking the International Day of Yoga on June 21.
In an order issued on June 14, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal instructed departments and offices to ensure participation in yoga sessions scheduled between 6.30 am and 7.45 am. Employees nominated for centralised events have been asked to attend programmes at venues including Red Road and Milan Mela grounds. The directive applies to personnel across state government departments, public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies and local bodies. Heads of departments, divisional commissioners, district magistrates and other officials have been tasked with ensuring compliance and facilitating participation. The International Day of Yoga, observed annually on June 21 following a United Nations resolution adopted in 2014, will mark its 12th edition this year. Ends
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