TMC MP Mahua Moitra on Thursday, 18 June 2026, sharply criticised the differential treatment of public space on Red Road in Kolkata, alleging that Eid prayers were denied permission for one hour on a single day at the venue while the same road was closed to traffic for an entire week for International Yoga Day celebrations.

Context

Moitra's post directly challenged three individuals — Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahman, and former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan — asking them to put the same question to their 'paymasters', a term widely understood in Indian political discourse as a reference to those funding or directing one's political activities. The post did not name any government authority explicitly but the implication pointed at administrative decisions governing Red Road, an iconic arterial stretch in central Kolkata that serves as the city's premier venue for large public gatherings and state functions.

The three individuals named are public figures associated with political activity in West Bengal. The current party affiliations of Abu Taher Khan and Khalilur Rahman could not be independently verified at the time of publication. Yusuf Pathan, the former Indian cricketer, has been publicly associated with political engagements in the state.

Policy Backdrop

International Yoga Day falls on 21 June every year. It was established by a United Nations General Assembly resolution in December 2014 at the initiative of the Government of India, and has been observed with large-scale state-sponsored events across the country since 2015. Red Road has been a preferred venue for the Kolkata edition of the observance, with Kolkata Police issuing temporary traffic and congregation orders annually for the event.

The same road has historically been the site of Eid congregational prayers, large political rallies, and Republic Day parades. Kolkata Police, which operates under the West Bengal government, is the authority responsible for granting permissions for gatherings and managing road closures at the venue. The specific permissions or denials issued for Eid 2026 on Red Road have not been officially confirmed in publicly available records at the time of writing.

Stakeholders and Impact

The controversy touches directly on Kolkata's Muslim community, which has historically used Red Road for large Eid congregations. Any restriction on that use — whether for a single morning or a longer period — carries significant symbolic weight in a city where the festival draws tens of thousands of worshippers to open-air venues.

Moitra's post also places pressure on minority-community political figures within the state, suggesting they should hold the administration accountable rather than remain silent. The framing reflects a recurring pattern in West Bengal politics where public-space allocation decisions become flashpoints for debates on communal equity and centre-state administrative authority. Residents of central Kolkata affected by any extended road closure for Yoga Day are a secondary stakeholder in the practical, civic dimension of the dispute.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to whether Kolkata Police or the West Bengal government issues any clarification on the permissions granted — or denied — for Eid prayers and International Yoga Day 2026 on Red Road. Any official response from Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahman, or Yusuf Pathan to Moitra's public challenge is also likely to extend the political conversation.

With International Yoga Day on 21 June just days away, the debate over equitable allocation of Kolkata's most prominent public road is set to intensify, and could shape how state and city authorities frame permissions for large gatherings at the venue in future years.