PM Modi should resign owning responsibility for Covid-19 surge: Mamata

Banerjee asserted that PM Modi did little to address the possible crisis in the supply of medical oxygen and vaccines

Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to handle the second wave of Covid-19 infections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday demanded his resignation.

She further alleged that the Prime Minister did not take appropriate measures to address the possible shortage of vaccine and oxygen supply during the past six months when the number of Covid-19 cases were low in the country .

“The Prime Minister must resign taking responsibility of the spike in Covid-19 cases in the country. He is responsible for this crisis. There was no administrative planning by him for 2021. Just look at the situation in Gujarat,” said Mamata. She was addressing a rally at Barrackpore in North 24 Paraganas district.

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Pointing out that she had written to the Prime Minister urging him to provide 5.4 crore doses of vaccine for every citizen of West Bengal, the Chief Minister said that she was yet to receive any response from him.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said that if the Centre had issued clearance, her government would have purchased vaccine on its own and vaccinated every citizen in West Bengal.

“The Maharashtra government flagged the acute shortage of life-saving drugs. But you (Modi) are busy campaigning in West Bengal,” said Mamata.

She further alleged that instead of providing vaccines to the states, the Prime Minister exported it to 80 countries to improve his image in the international arena.

“I have no objection to you helping other countries but first you have to give it to Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bengal and other states. But instead you were only bothered about improving your image in the international arena,” said Mamata.

At another rally in Tehatta in Nadia district, Mamata accused the BJP’s central leaders of bringing in “outsiders” to Bengal without testing them for Covid-19 infection and causing the surge in cases in the state.

“BJP leaders from Delhi are bringing outsiders to Bengal without conducting Covid-19 tests. Being infected with the virus is not a crime. But the reckless attitude of BJP leaders are causing a surge in Covid-19 cases. Our party would have never taken such a risk,” said Mamata.

She also slammed the Election Commission for not clubbing the remaining phases of the Assembly elections.