Sun Apr 13 11:22:46 UTC 2025: ## Bengal MP Yusuf Pathan Faces Backlash for Relaxed Instagram Post Amidst Murshidabad Violence

**Kolkata, West Bengal** – Trinamool Congress MP and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan is facing intense criticism for an Instagram post showing him enjoying a cup of tea, just days after violent protests erupted in Murshidabad district over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. While the violence primarily affected areas outside Pathan’s Baharampur constituency, their proximity and the timing of the post have sparked outrage on social media.

Pathan’s Instagram post, featuring three pictures with the caption “Easy afternoons, good chai, and calm surroundings. Just soaking in the moment,” drew immediate condemnation. Users questioned his insensitivity, with one asking, “Do you have any shame?”

The BJP has seized on the post, accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of enabling the violence. Shehzad Poonawalla, a BJP national spokesperson, tweeted, “Bengal is burning… Mamata Banerjee is encouraging such state-protected violence as Police stays silent! Meanwhile Yusuf Pathan – MP sips tea and soaks in the moment as Hindus get slaughtered… This is TMC.” Left party supporters have also condemned Pathan’s actions.

The violence in Murshidabad, which claimed three lives, prompted the Calcutta High Court to order the deployment of central forces. The court stated it “cannot turn a blind eye” to reports of vandalism and emphasized that the safety and security of the people are paramount. The affected areas, including Suti, Dhuliya, and Samserganj, are located approximately 80 km from Pathan’s constituency.

Pathan, who defeated five-time MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in last year’s election, has yet to respond to the criticism. His candidacy itself was previously questioned due to his residence in Gujarat.

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