Mamata Banerjee Blames Outsiders For COVID-19 Spread, Asks To Behave Responsibly

The Trinamool Congress President and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the 20th of April, criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for spreading the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 in the State.

Concerned with the ongoing rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, Mamata Banerjee blamed outsiders. She said people coming from outside for election purposes are responsible for the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Ms. Banerjee’s statement came at a time when West Bengal is conducting the Assembly elections. While five phases have been conducted, three phases are scheduled on the 22nd of April, 27th of April and the 29th of April. The result of the State Assembly elections is scheduled to be released on the 2nd of May.

Meanwhile, in the past week, the State is witnessing a massive rise in single day COVID-19 cases with a minimum 6,000 cases.

Mamata Banerjee asked citizens of West Bengal not to panic and assured every possible step to put a check on the uncontrolled spread of the virus.

Speaking at a press conference in Malda district on the 19th of April, Mamata Banerjee said, “More than one lakh people have come from outside to do the campaign and they are sitting here for months. They should go back. I cannot send the people of my state outside but people should cooperate. If they go then it can help in controlling the disease. The Prime Minister and Home Minister are coming with people from outside and I don’t know whether they have COVID-19 or not.” She further said, “So, if I have already told you that the central forces who are coming to the State should have their RT PCR test done. They are more than 1.5 lakh and they are moving from one district to another. People who are coming from outside the State should behave responsibly.”

During the press conference in Malda, The Supremo of the TMC asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct the remaining three phases of Assembly elections in one single phase. She said, “I had told the election commission officially to club the next three phases. There is provision and if the commission wanted, they could have done it. Due to the election the important people in the administration are engaged and they cannot work for COVID-19. This is creating a hindrance for the State. If the process of the election would have been completed, we could have used this workforce for the control of the disease.”

Highlighting the steps taken to ensure the prevention of the deadly virus, Ms. Banerjee said, “The State Government has increased 1,000 beds in the last 4 days and we will increase 3,500 beds in the next few days. All the hospitals in the government sector including ESI, a total of 100 are being prepared for COVID-19 patients. We have also spoken to 58 private hospitals to ensure a greater number of COVID-19 beds. We will use hotels as hospitals if needed.”

Briefing about the current COVID-19 situation in West Bengal, the State Chief Minister said, “We currently have 2,000 serious patients among those who are infected, these people have comorbidities. In this fight vaccines, oxygen and Remedisivir are needed and there is a shortage of these. I have already written to the Prime Minister regarding this. I have requested him to provide us with these things immediately. We are trying to buy these from outside but it is not available in the market. But still, we are buying 1,500 per day because only that much is available.” In addition she said, “The Election Commission has taken many houses for the election, so there are fewer safe homes. We have 11,000 beds with 200 safe homes. The control room is working daily, 400 ambulances are working. We have made 50% attendance in government departments. The rest will work from home. We have taken 58 hospitals and built 200 safe homes. We have taken super speciality and multispeciality hospitals for treatment in the districts where elections have already been held.”

When asked, if post elections, the State would witness a lockdown or night curfew, Ms. Mamata Banerjee denied the possibility. She said the TMC Government is not in favour of lockdown and night curfew.

According to Ms. Mamata Banerjee, night curfew or lockdown is not a solution to the situation and it only adds to the woes of the people. She said, “The people should be given time so that they can get prepared. You impose a lockdown and that only increases the harassment of the common people. The State Government is strongly against any kind of lockdown or night curfew.”

Meanwhile, till date West Bengal has more than 53,000 active cases and 10,000 people lost lives due to COVID-19.

Stay tuned for further updates.