Amid violent protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act in West Bengal—marked by arson, clashes, and fatalities in areas like Murshidabad—Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan sparked widespread backlash with an Instagram post highlighting "calm surroundings and good chai."
Waqf Act protests: TMC MP Yusuf Pathan's 'Good Chai' Post Faces Flak Amid Murshidabad Violence
Pathan's post comes amid ongoing unrest in Murshidabad and other parts of Bengal over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, with tensions escalating to the point of Central Forces and BSF companies being deployed.
The cricketer-turned-politician's remarks drew criticism across social media and from the BJP, as parts of the state continue to reel from unrest, prompting the deployment of Central Forces and BSF personnel.
In the pictures posted by Yusuf Pathan, he can be seen sipping tea, sitting under a tree, as he captioned it: "Easy afternoons, good chai and calm surroundings. Just soaking in the moment." The Baharampur MP received a lot of backlash as people criticised him and asked him to post pictures of the violence-hit areas in Murshidabad instead. Baharampur is located in Murshidabad.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla came down heavily on Yusuf Pathan for his insensitive post during the difficult time in Murshidabad. Referring to his post, he said, "Bengal is burning. HC has said it can’t keep its eyes closed and deployed central forces. Mamata Banerjee is encouraging such state-protected violence, as the Police stay silent! Meanwhile, Yusuf Pathan - MP sips tea and soaks in the moment as Hindus get slaughtered."
Slamming Pathan, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that Mamata Banerjee had chosen cricketer Yusuf Pathan "from somewhere" and given him an election ticket, which he won in Baharampur due to vote bank politics. Poonawalla claimed that while Bengal was facing widespread violence and Hindus were being selectively targeted, Pathan was seen leisurely sipping tea, showing what he described as the Trinamool Congress’s misplaced priorities.
He further alleged that while families like the Das family were suffering, Pathan appeared indifferent to the situation, highlighting what he saw as a lack of accountability and seriousness from the TMC leadership.
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