As the coronavirus crisis in India is raging, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual meeting with collectors of 54 districts to discuss the situation. The meeting regarding the corona epidemic was also attended by CMs of 10 states including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Soon after the meeting with PM Modi, Mamata expressed her resentment at a press conference. She said that the Chief Ministers of 10 states were present in the meeting but none of them was allowed to speak. She said that only Prime Minister spoke during the whole meeting. Criticizing Modi, Mamata said that it is outrageous and an insult to not be allowed to speak.
She further added, “We had to demand 3 crore vaccines for Bengal. But, we were not allowed to speak.” So far, the state has received only 13 lakh vaccines from the Centre and 24 lakh are yet to be supplied.
As Mamata was herself attending the meeting, none of the district collectors were allowed to attend.
Further raising questions against Modi’s governance, Mamata said after a spike in Coronavirus cases in Bengal, an investigation team was immediately sent to the state. However, when bodies of suspected Covid-positives were seen flouting in Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, no such team was sent and no investigation took place. She further blamed the Central government for destroying the federal structure. ‘Centre is not providing vaccines, oxygen or medicine at all.’
Continuing with the list of allegations, Mamata said that the Centre is responsible for the slow pace of vaccination in the country. “We have bought a vaccine worth Rs 60 crores privately”. She also questioned the plan of administering the second dose of vaccine after 3 months and asked the Centre to provide a reason behind it.