<p>The West Bengal unit of the CPI(M) and their Left Front allies staged a “token demonstration” on Saturday in central Kolkata during lockdown against the alleged corruption in the PDS system and suppression of information related to the COVID-19 outbreak by the state government.</p>.<p>Even as all the Left Front leaders were wearing masks and claimed to maintain social distancing during the protest demonstration, they were arrested for violating the lockdown. A scuffle broke out between the agitators and police when the Left Front leaders were being put in prison vans.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-to-remain-under-lockdown-till-may-3-tally-breaches-10000-mark-toll-at-326-817763.html">Follow live updates on coronavirus</a></p>.<p>CPI(M) state secretary Surjyakanta Mishra said that the state government must provide daily updates regarding the red zones, orange zones and COVID-19 hotspots in Bengal so that people can cooperate even more to enforce the lockdown.</p>.<p>The Left leadership further alleged that in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, medical facilities for treatment of other ailments have crumbled in the state.</p>.<p>Interestingly CPI(M) Politburo member Md. Salim said that if anyone present in the “token demonstration” gets infected by COVID-19, Kolkata Police will be responsible for it.</p>.<p>“It was Kolkata Police who violated social distancing not us,” said Salim.</p>.<p>However, Left Front’s ally in the state Congress did not take part in the demonstration as they have decided not to hold any public demonstration during the lockdown.</p>.<p>CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged that police violated guidelines while arresting Left Front leaders.</p>.<p>“TMC govt must release them. Now. #COVID19 has destroyed lives & livelihoods. State govt must respond to that instead of trying to bully us by arrests while we are strictly following guidelines & precautions. The police violated guidelines, in how they arrested!” tweeted Yechury.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the death toll in West Bengal due to COVID-19 rose to 12 and the number of active cases went up to 178 in the state. The information was provided by Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha during a media briefing at the state secretariat.</p>
<p>The West Bengal unit of the CPI(M) and their Left Front allies staged a “token demonstration” on Saturday in central Kolkata during lockdown against the alleged corruption in the PDS system and suppression of information related to the COVID-19 outbreak by the state government.</p>.<p>Even as all the Left Front leaders were wearing masks and claimed to maintain social distancing during the protest demonstration, they were arrested for violating the lockdown. A scuffle broke out between the agitators and police when the Left Front leaders were being put in prison vans.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-to-remain-under-lockdown-till-may-3-tally-breaches-10000-mark-toll-at-326-817763.html">Follow live updates on coronavirus</a></p>.<p>CPI(M) state secretary Surjyakanta Mishra said that the state government must provide daily updates regarding the red zones, orange zones and COVID-19 hotspots in Bengal so that people can cooperate even more to enforce the lockdown.</p>.<p>The Left leadership further alleged that in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, medical facilities for treatment of other ailments have crumbled in the state.</p>.<p>Interestingly CPI(M) Politburo member Md. Salim said that if anyone present in the “token demonstration” gets infected by COVID-19, Kolkata Police will be responsible for it.</p>.<p>“It was Kolkata Police who violated social distancing not us,” said Salim.</p>.<p>However, Left Front’s ally in the state Congress did not take part in the demonstration as they have decided not to hold any public demonstration during the lockdown.</p>.<p>CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged that police violated guidelines while arresting Left Front leaders.</p>.<p>“TMC govt must release them. Now. #COVID19 has destroyed lives & livelihoods. State govt must respond to that instead of trying to bully us by arrests while we are strictly following guidelines & precautions. The police violated guidelines, in how they arrested!” tweeted Yechury.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the death toll in West Bengal due to COVID-19 rose to 12 and the number of active cases went up to 178 in the state. The information was provided by Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha during a media briefing at the state secretariat.</p>
