In a major drawback to West Bengal, as the State was not allowed a spot as speaker in the meeting.
On the 17th of June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to conduct a meeting with different state chief ministers to discuss the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19.
Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal in regard to this may skip today’s video conference meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Prime Minister has been holding consultations with the chief ministers from the 16th of June, as the country gradually emerges out of lockdown as Unlock 1 and number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the country is rising.
According to sources, Mamata Banerjee is “undecided” about participating in the virtual meeting.
Though Ms. Bannerjee would skip the meeting, a senior government official from the ruling Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) would represent West Bengal in today’s meeting.
Meanwhile another TMC leader expressed disappointment and said, “What is the need for attending the meeting if you are not allowed to speak … The chief minister is still undecided about attending the meeting with the prime minister.”
Dinesh Trivedi, a Member of Parliament (MP) of the TMC took to Twitter and said, “It seems the Centre’s so worried about exposing itself to @MamataOfficial’s constructive criticism on #COVID response that our hon’ble CM’s been reduced to just a mute spectator for the latest round of VCs with the PM. People of Bengal won’t forgive this.”
Partha Chaterjee, another MLA also said the similar things and said, “Just because Mamata Banerjee has been pointing out the lapses and wrong decisions in implementing the lockdown, she has been blacked out in the meeting. This is an attempt to scuttle democracy and the BJP government’s inability to face constructive criticism. We condemn it.”
Meanwhile, Dilip Ghosh, the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) West Bengal unit defended the decision of the Central Government of not allowing West Bengal CM to speak and said, “The West Bengal government has been a complete failure in implementing the lockdown in the state. It has been busy in blaming the Central Government. In previous meetings our chief minister has done nothing apart from seeking funds.”
The West Bengal Government and Central Government is witnessing a dispute and disagreement on major decisions in the past few days.
The major reason of the ongoing clashes is the situation due to the pandemic crisis, the Novel Coronavirus.
Recently, Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister of India lashed out at the West Bengal CM for calling Shramik Express as Coronavirus Express.
The Union Health Ministry also lashed out at the West Bengal Government for hiding Covid-19 figures and playing politics during such a pandemic crisis.
Meanwhile, West Bengal reported a total of 11,909 cases of the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 and 495 fatalities till the 17th of June.
Stay tuned for further updates.
