KOLKATA—West Bengal's Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul is facing a storm of criticism after suggesting that the government can't control mosquito behavior, even as dengue cases surge across the state. Her remark—"Cannot ask mosquitoes to bite less as the government has changed"—landed with a thud among critics and citizens already grappling with a public health crisis.

Key facts

  • Over 4,000 dengue cases reported in West Bengal in recent weeks
  • Seven confirmed deaths from the outbreak
  • Minister Paul's remark follows similar controversy over homeless woman incident
  • Health Minister urges schools to mandate full-sleeve clothing for students

Health Crisis Deepens

The vector-borne disease outbreak, particularly dengue, has tightened its grip on West Bengal. Hospitals are seeing a steady stream of patients, and health officials are scrambling to contain the spread. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari maintained that the situation is "under control," noting that case numbers are half of what they were last year. Still, the toll—seven lives lost—hangs heavily over the state.

A Pattern of Controversy

This isn't the first time Minister Paul has found herself at the center of public anger. Just weeks ago, she was filmed reprimanding a homeless woman heating milk for her child on a Kolkata pavement. "Who gave you permission to set up your household here?" she demanded, in an exchange that quickly went viral. Former Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar didn’t mince words, linking both incidents: "She alone can finish off her BJP in West Bengal!"

“Cannot ask mosquitoes to bite less as the government has changed.”

Response and Reactions

While Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee has pragmatically urged schools to adopt protective dress codes, it's Paul's phrasing that has overshadowed the government's messaging. The remark feels especially tone-deaf to those who remember her previous confrontation with vulnerability—a mother just trying to feed her child. For now, the government is walking a tightrope: managing a public health emergency while containing the political fallout of a minister's ill-chosen words.