Didi: BJP responsible for Covid-19 surge in Bengal
Urges EC to prevent entry of ‘outsiders; during campaigning
Nabadwip/Jagatdal/Noap ara (WB), April 16: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Friday squarely blamed BJP for exacerbating the Covid situation in the state and said she will call upon the Election Commission to stop the saffron party from bringing in “outsiders” during campaigning for the ongoing assembly election.
Adressing an election meeting here, Ms Banerjee said the BJP brought people from “worst-hit” states like Gujarat for erecting marquees for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s poll rallies.
“I will tell the EC to stop the inflow of outsiders from states like Gujarat who are responsible for the Covid spread in Bengal.
“We have nothing to say if the PM or other leaders come for campaigning... But why should BJP bring people from worst-affected states to set up podiums and pandals for the rallies,” she said.
Local labourers and decorators can be engaged for the purpose after necessary Covid tests, Ms Banerjee said.
At another meeting at Jagatdal, the TMC supremo said that Covid test of those coming from outside, the decorators and workers should be made mandatory.
She claimed that the Covid situation in states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat was far worse than Bengal. “In UP they (the BJP government of that state) have built walls around cremation sites to secretly burn bodies. The situation in Gujarat is alarming. A Bengali lady professor died there of coronavirus due to lack of treatment.”
She also alleged that untrained non-medical persons were administering “so-called vaccines from BJP party offices in Gujarat”.
Blaming the BJP of trying to stop her from canvassing by “targeting her leg”, Ms Banerjee said she has been able to overcome the situation with the blessings of the people. “The injury has healed 75 per cent,” she said.