Can’t ask mosquitoes not to bite: Bengal minister’s remark draws criticism
At least nine people, including a four-year-old child and two women, were killed on the spot by West Bengal Cabinet Minister Agnimitra Paul after a fire broke out in a dingy five-storey building housing several hotels on Mirza Galib Street. File | Photo credit: PTI
West Bengal Chief Minister Agnimitra Paul’s remark on the outbreak of the vector-borne disease in the state has drawn criticism in the state’s political circles. Ms Paul, who holds the urban development and urban affairs portfolio, said the government would have to step up its efforts to combat the situation as mosquitoes cannot be tamed.
“We cannot demand that mosquitoes bite less because the government has changed,” the minister told reporters.
West Bengal has seen an outbreak of vector-borne diseases, particularly dengue fever, with more than 4,000 dengue infections and seven deaths reported in the past few weeks. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari met officials earlier this week and said the situation was under control.
Mr. Adhikari also added that the number of dengue cases was half as compared to last year. State Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee has urged schools to allow students to wear clothes that fully cover their arms and legs during the dengue season. However, it is the urban development minister’s remarks that have drawn criticism.
Sharing the minister’s remarks on social media, former Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar said that “she alone can complete her BJP in West Bengal! She recently asked a poor homeless woman who is boiling milk for her child in one corner of an already occupied pavement, why doesn’t she have a house?”, Mr Sircar posted on social media.
On August 22, three days after the Mirza Ghalib Street hotel fire claimed nine lives, Ms. Paul was seen scolding a homeless woman on the footpath in the Park Street area of Kolkata. A woman was heating milk in a pot to feed her child. “Heating milk for a baby on the pavement? In Park Street? Who gave you permission to set up a household here?” Miss Paul made herself heard.
She then asked the woman to remove her belongings from the road in the presence of several Kolkata Police officers. This also led to widespread criticism and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari attempted damage control by meeting the woman and offering her shelter.
Published – 05 Sep 2026 12:45 IST