Covid-19 crisis result of Centre doing no work in last 6 months: Mamata Banerjee

Mamata alleged that despite the crisis, the leaders at the Centre were preoccupied with their effort to capture Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that the Covid-19 crisis in the country has become so severe because of the inaction of the BJP led Government at the Centre.

Addressing the Assembly for the first time after becoming the Chief Minister for the third consecutive term, Mamata further alleged that despite the crisis the leaders of the ruling party at the Centre were preoccupied with their desperate effort to capture Bengal.

Lashing out at the Centre the Chief Minister alleged that even with the expenditure of Rs 30,000 crore, Covid-19 vaccines could be provided to everyone for free.

“Even though providing Rs 30,000 crore is nothing for the Centre, instead they spent Rs 50,000 crore for building statues, new Parliament, aircraft for the Prime Minister. Their priority should have been vaccination but clearly it’s not,” said Mamata.

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The Chief Minister said that even as she told the Centre in February that her Government was willing to purchase vaccines on its own expenditure but did not receive any response.

Lashing out at the Election Commission (EC) she alleged that in some place in the State polls were rigged under direct watch of the poll panel.

“I can challenge that without the EC’s help the BJP could not win even 30 seats. They are refusing to accept the people’s mandate and are trying to incite violence by spreading fake videos,” said Mamata. She instructed the State administration and police to take stern action against those who are inciting violence and communal tension in Bengal.

The Chief Minister alleged that the BJP in their desperation to establish “double engine government” - being in power at the Centre and in Bengal - they have pushed the country to the verge of ruin.

“For the last six months the Centre did not do anything as they (Union Ministers) were coming here everyday to capture Bengal,” said Mamata.

“What crime has Bengal committed? Why this step-motherly attitude? Within 24 hours after I took oath the Centre sent a team… They are unable to accept the people’s victory,” said Mamata.

Taking potshots at the BJP, she said that the TMC gave a fitting reply to their slogan of “double engine government” by scoring a “double century” in the Assembly elections.