A day after TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee offered to help the homeless woman in the viral pavement video, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday met Sita Devi and her family.
The homeless woman was reprimanded by Minister Agnimitra Paul for allegedly boiling milk on a roadside pavement in Kolkata on Saturday. On Monday, former chief minister Mamata Banerjee offered to take responsibility for the family’s accommodation and the children’s education. Without naming Paul, Mamata also criticised the BJP government over the incident.
On Tuesday, Sita Devi visited the Chief Minister’s Janata Darbar at the BJP office in Salt Lake, along with her two grandchildren and other family members. Upon meeting her, Adhikari assured the family that accommodation would be arranged for them.
According to sources, he spoke briefly to the family and asked them about the incident before assuring them of help.
“She (Sita Devi) has not made allegations against anyone. I have told her not to stay on the pavement. Roads and pavements are not meant for living. I have told her that Kolkata Municipal Corporation will make necessary arrangements for her to stay,” Adhikari told reporters after meeting her.
“They (the homeless) have been there for the last 50 years; no one took care of them, neither the Left nor the Trinamool Congress, who have been here for the last 15 years. She (Sita Devi) said she has faith in this government.”
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Slamming Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari alleged, “Mamata Banerjee had sent people to her and offered them money to speak against the BJP, but she did not agree. She said she has faith in the chief minister and the BJP, and is not going to fall into Mamata Banerjee’s trap.”
The Municipal Affairs Minister was also seen directing the officials and police to clear the spot. The incident drew criticism from the Opposition, including TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh, who met the family. The Opposition slammed Paul for allegedly stopping the woman from boiling milk to feed her grandchildren.
Paul later defended her action, saying residents had voted for a clean city that could attract investors.
Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage.
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Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness.
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State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies.
Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues.
Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).
Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More
