West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today questioned the formation of the Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT) constituted by the Central Government for quick redressal of coronavirus crisis in states claiming that it is ‘not consistent with the spirit of federalism’.
https://twitter.com/MamataOfficial/status/1252178149871243264?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwEarlier today, the Central government constituted 6 IMCT to make on-spot assessment of the coronavirus situation and issue necessary directions to state authorities for its redressal. The IMCT would also submit its report to the central government in the larger interest of the general public. These teams would visit West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan to ensure that lockdown is implemented there.
https://twitter.com/PIBHomeAffairs/status/1252091485522202624?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwHowever, amidst all this, Mamata Banerjee continues to defy the central guidelines. Earlier she had said she would not allow usage of PPE kits sent by centre as they were in yellow colour. CPI(M) leader Md Salim alleged that the coronavirus cases in West Bengal are being suppressed.
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1252154197199302657?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwSpeaking to media, Md Salim said that one Nepal Barman in Malda died of coronavirus and his deadbody was surreptitiously burned in crematorium on 12th April. Banerjee government claimed that Barman was tested negative for coronavirus stating that the swab sample was collected on 13th April, a day after he was cremated.
Coronavirus crisis in West Bengal
Health experts have slammed Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal over delayed response and mismanagement. There are also allegations of the West Bengal government fudging the data of COVID-19 positive cases as well as deaths in state. West Bengal Doctors’ Forum also wrote to Banerjee asking that the coronavirus data should be genuine, transparent and verifiable.