KOLKATA 15 APRIL: Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar’s call for deploying paramilitary forces to enforce lockdown has invited sharp criticism from chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who said that some people are trying to “fish out of troubled waters in the times of crisis.”
Dhankhar on Wednesday tweeted: “lockdown protocol should be thoroughly implemented and lockdown must succeed-examine central paramilitary forces requisitioning”.
Here is a tweet from Jagdeep Dhankhar
Banerjee said that nobody can guarantee that paramilitary forces won’t be affected by COVID-19 . The disease won’t spare anybody.
“I have heard that the DG of CRPF has quarantined himself. There is no need to take pride that the disease won’t affect paramilitary forces. Our sole aim is to see that the disease does not spread to resist community spreading. And for that we have to follow the guidelines of ICMR,” Banerjee added.
Banerjee said: “ This is not the time to engage in communal violence or political violence. In this trying times it is the need of the hour to work hand in hand the fight the pandemic together .”
According to the BJP leaders that Banerjee is trying to hide COVID-19 deaths. In the last 24 hours West Bengal government has not admitted that there has been a single death due to Corona virus . At the same time in Bankura ,there has been police lathe-charged on local people during the cremation of a person who died of unknown reason .
BJP leader Kailash Vijaywargiya tweeted: “Four dead bodies are kept in the isolation ward of MR Bangur Hospital and the names of the dead bodies were mentioned.”
Here is Vijaywargiya’s tweet on this regard
Rahul Sinha, BJP national secretary, said: “We feel that the state government should provide actual figures of death related to COVID-19. By suppressing the data on the number of deaths, chief minister is trying to play with fire. It’s the right of the common people to know how many deaths occurred due to COVID-19”.
Dilip Ghosh state BJP president also tweeted in this regard.
Here is Ghosh’s tweet
Banerjee, however, said: “ We are not suppressing any information. Some political parties are trying to play politics in this crisis situation and I urge them not to play politics in times of crisis.”
Meanwhile, a day after migrant workers got stranded at Bandra in Mumbai demanded that they should be sent to their home town immediately, Mamata Banerjee said that they will provide financial assistance and relief to migrant workers and their families from the state who are stranded outside due to nationwide lockdown.
“I have spoken with the chief minister of Maharashtra and we have also spoken with other chief ministers. We are trying to provide financial assistance to the migrant workers and their families of Bengal who are stranded outside due to nationwide lockdown.” Banerjee added.
According to the figures provided by the West Bengal government, 17 more positive cases were reported in Bengal in last 24 hours and till now the death remains 7.
“ Unless expert committee gives us the figure of the actual cause of death we are unable to provide the data on COVID-19 death.” Banerjee added.
Relaxations offered by West Bengal government after Ministry of Home Affairs issued guidelines
1) The remaining subjects of the board examination which was not held due to COVID-19 will be conducted in June. Dates will be announced later .
2) All students who are studying in Class XI will be promoted to Class XII and they need not have to give the final examination. In case of colleges and Universities, private universities, students need not have to give any internal examination and they will only need to give the final semester .
3) The ICDS centers will remain closed till 15 May and food will be provided in their respective households.
4) In government offices 30 percent officers above the level of deputy secretaries will have to work on alternative basis from 20 May onward.
5) After Center issued a letter to the West Bengal government to re-open 18 Jute mill industries , as there was demand for gunny jute bags the West Bengal government has decided not to discriminate and will open all jute mills and the mills will function with 15 per cent manpower. The mill workers will work by maintaining all precautions as prescribed by ICMR.
“ I have received the letter from Union textile minister Mrs Smriti Irani who urged us to -re-open 18 Jute mills in the state. I cannot discriminate as it will be unfair for me to re-open some jute mills. I have spoken to the trade union leaders of various jute mills who also demanded that mills should be re-opened with minimum workers. I have decided to open all the jute mills with minimum work force. States like Punjab, Telangana has also asked us to supply jute bags.” Banerjee added .
6) The doctors, nurses, paramedics who are working 24*7 in the hospitals will work in shifts . All the health care professionals need seven day rest and so accordingly a duty roster should be prepared by the individual hospital authorities so that every team can get seven day off. This will help the doctors , nurses , paramedics to de-stress themselves.