Apparently putting a new coating to her “outsider” weapon, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that the “BJP’s outsiders” were responsible for the increase in the number of corona cases in Bengal.
Intensifying her tirade against the “BJP’s outsiders” she said “in Bengal we had controlled corona … the cases had been reduced” to negligible numbers but “as the election campaign it started spreading because the BJP’s outsiders brought it from other States.”
She said “I have been repeatedly talking against bringing people from outside states to Bengal for campaigning but they did not listen to me and brought them to our State … these people would not come to Bengal when corona was at its peak … it was only we who were fighting to contain the disease … and now when we had controlled it they brought outsiders who brought the disease with them, infected the local people and fled.”
Alleging that the State Government had been continuously asking for vaccines from the Centre she said “now they are coming to ask for votes … but when we asked for vaccines they would not give it to us … we have deposited the required money for the vaccines but they are still not coming.”
With the daily cases rising by more than 10 percent --- the latest figure reaching to about 4,800 on Tuesday --- there has been a huge shortage of vaccine in most Bengal hospitals. According to State health department 3 lakh Covishield vaccines reached Kolkata on Wednesday noon and another badge of 2 lakh Covaxin would reach the State by Wednesday night.
Referring to the Cooch Behar police firing that killed four people in Sitalkuchi constituency of the North Bengal district Banerjee on Wednesday said she would get the matter probed and ensure justice for the kin of the victims.
Banerjee visited Mathabhanga Hospital where the injured were being treated three days after the Election Commission lifted the 72-hour ban on political leaders visiting the district.
“I can assure you that whosoever is guilty will be brought to justice after the elections,” Banerjee said adding her Government would support the victims family with all kind of support. Four persons Manirul, Samilul, Hamidul and Nur Alam were killed in the firing. Banerjee also met a distant relative of BJP supporter Ananda Burman who was shot dead on the same day by alleged TMC goons in the same constituency and assured them justice too.
“The Government will track everyone responsible for the cold-blooded killing and ensure they are punished as per law,” Banerjee said reminding how the wife of a victim was pregnant and that of another had a small child.”
Four persons were killed as central forces opened fire at alleged hooligans who “attempted to snatch their rifles” at booth number 5/126 during polls on April 10. The clash broke out when the quick response team of the central forces were escorting a group of voters who had been stopped from voting by miscreants to the booth.