Ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit West Bengal and attend the main event on Kolkata’s Red Road. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari and other political figures are also expected to join. Authorities have begun extensive preparations, including a week-long traffic ban on Red Road from June 14 to 21 due to stage construction and security arrangements.

The decision has drawn criticism from sections of the Muslim community, who questioned why Eid prayers were not allowed on Red Road while permission was granted for the Yoga Day event. Several imams and religious leaders publicly voiced objections. Responding to the controversy, BJP leader and state minister Dilip Ghosh defended the restrictions, citing security concerns during the Prime Minister’s visit. He added that the event was planned to minimize public inconvenience.

Ghosh’s remarks turned contentious when he said that those objecting to the decision should go to Bangladesh or Pakistan to offer prayers, asserting that such practices would not continue under the current government.