Kolkata, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend a major event in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, on June 21 to mark International Yoga Day. This is considered the Prime Minister's first major public event in the state since the BJP came to power. Kolkata's historic Red Road has been selected as the main venue for the occasion, where Prime Minister Modi will lead the Yoga Day program.

Administrative preparations for the Prime Minister's visit are in full swing. As part of this, Red Road has been closed to general traffic since June 14. The decision to close the road has sparked a political and legal controversy. The opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC) has raised questions about the move, while the All India Lawyers Union (AILU) has challenged the matter in the Calcutta High Court. 

Petition in High Court against Red Road closure

The petition filed by the All India Lawyers Union stated that lawyers and ordinary citizens commuting to and from the court are facing significant inconvenience due to the road closure since June 14. While hearing the matter, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya directed the state government to ensure alternative traffic arrangements for the public during the period the road remains closed.

The court also clarified that Red Road must be opened to the general public immediately after the conclusion of the Yoga Day event. 

Lawyers cite inconvenience to the public

Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya, representing the petitioners, argued that instead of closing the entire stretch, a portion of the road could have been kept open. This would have spared people from taking long detours and wasting extra time. According to the administration, approximately 35,000 people are expected to attend the event. 

State government's stance

The state government informed the court that the event is being organized in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH and that alternative routes are available in the area to maintain traffic flow. The government claims that the general public will not face any significant inconvenience. During the hearing, the High Court directed the state government to file an affidavit within three weeks. The matter will be heard again thereafter. 

Mahua Moitra Raises Questions

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra has also targeted the BJP government over the issue of closing Red Road. In a post on the social media platform X, she questioned the situation by comparing the Yoga Day event to Eid prayers.

Mahua wrote that permission is not granted for Eid prayers on Red Road—not even for a single hour on one day—whereas traffic has been halted on the same road for a week for the Yoga Day event. She also commented on the silence of certain leaders regarding this issue. 

Targeting Leaders Who Left TMC

In her post, Mahua Moitra also indirectly took aim at Muslim leaders who left the TMC to join the NDA following the political shift in the state. 

Controversy Over Employee Participation

Meanwhile, employee organizations have raised objections to the West Bengal government's appeal for officials and staff to participate in the Yoga Day event. This matter also reached the court.

During the hearing, the court observed that the state government's order nowhere mandates the attendance of employees. The order merely requests participation in the event; therefore, it cannot be considered a binding directive.