The Centre and West Bengal Government locked horns on Saturday. The MHA shot off a letter to the Mamata Banaerjee dispensation over the “gradual dilution” of lockdown rules in the State by allowing religious gatherings in mosques and ruling party TMC to distribute food to large gatherings besides permitting flower, sweet and pan shops to open in many areas.
In the letter to the State Chief Secretary and DGP, the Union Home Ministry expressed displeasure over the violation of lockdown rules and asked them to stop it immediately. The MHA also sought an action taken report from them.
The Home Ministry’s letter was shot to the State soon after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took up the alleged abuse of power by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar in her video conference meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Corona is a deadly disease a dangerous virus and not a communal virus and so they should refrain from communalising the issue,” Banerjee said in an apparent reference to the letter.
Later in the evening, the Governor came out with a video message in social media appealing people of the state to keep lockdown and social distancing norms to prevent the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
“As per further reports received from security agencies, gradual dilution of lockdown has been reported from West Bengal with an increase in the number of exceptions being provided by the State Government. For instance, shops relating to non-essential items have been allowed to function. There is no regulation in vegetable, fish and mutton markets where people have been thronging in complete violation of social distancing norms,” said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
It pinpointed the huge crowds in Kolkata’s Rajabazaar, Nakel Danga, Topsia, Metiaburz, Gardenreach, Ikbalpur and Maniktala. Incidentally, the stated areas are minority-dominated pockets — including large slums— of Kolkata.
In the strongly-worded letter, the MHA pointed out that Narkel Danga is already witnessing more Covid-19 cases. The MHA said, “It has been reported that police have been allowing religious congregations. Free ration has been distributed not through the institutional delivery system but by political leaders. This may have resulted in spread of Covid-19 infections.”
The Home Ministry said such activities are in violation of the Central government’s orders issued from time to time under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and are liable for penal action under the Act.