WEST BENGAL POLITICAL VIRUS IS BOTH DANGEROUS TO HEALTH AND COMMUNAL IN NATURE.
A report came out on 27th April, 2020: Alleging that the West Bengal government is trying to hide the real figures of Covid-19 patients and not providing enough protection to medics dealing with these cases, MPs and office bearers of the BJP state unit held protests on Sunday. They alleged the state government was not letting rations sent by the Centre reach the intended beneficiaries. “Mamata Ji’s expiry date is coming in terms of politics, just wait and watch what is going to happen. Mamata Banerjee is tackling corona in a pathetic manner. She is going everywhere to spread the political virus,” said Babul Supriyo while protesting against the TMC-led government in Delhi. Other BJP leaders like Dilip Ghosh have pointed out that in order to escape from the COVID mess that the chief minister herself has created, the health secretary was made the scapegoat. She has a habit of blaming the Centre for everything. This time too there is no difference.
The real question is not if what the Center is alleging is true or not. The doctors filed a complaint which alleged that doctors have not been provided with Protective Equipment and other safeguards. The death of Biplab Kanti Dasgupta, assistant director of West Bengal Health Services, allegedly due to Covid-19, immediately after the protests by MPs Soumitra Khan (Bishnupur) and Jyotirmay Singh Mahato (Purulia), Union minister Babul Supriyo, BJP national secretary Arvind Menon and nominated Rajya Sabha member Swapan Dasgupta held a protest in Delhi, led BJP to sharpen its attack on the state government for not providing enough PPEs to the medical staff and taking other measures for their safety. The guidelines for the 19-day extended period of the nationwide lockdown issued by the Centre led to a clash between the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC)?and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The immediate trigger, however, came from West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who accused the state government of not following lockdown rules effectively, and allowing religious congregations. He also indicated that central paramilitary forces could be deployed in the state to enforce the lockdown, if necessary. The Union ministry of home affairs has dispatched Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT) to assess the level of preparedness in the battle against the pandemic in different red and orange zones across India. They have been given the authority to check if the state is handling the situation well and if there is any lack of either medical staff, resources of any form or medical equipment, so as to provide the people with better healthcare. But out of all the other states that are willing to join hands with IMTC to fight this crisis, only West Bengal’s Chief Minister- Mamtaji seems to have a problem yet again. Mamata initially refused to cooperate with the central team and denied them access and logistical support. She cooperated only when Amit Shah’s ministry issued a warning and a letter asking Mamata not to obstruct the central teams from doing its duty.
Mamta Banerjee came down heavily over the communal riots incident that occurred quite recently that was a result of the clashes resulting in Hindus being attacked by Muslims in Telinipara incident, and said, “Some are trying to instigate riots. Some political parties thrive on riots. We have to ensure no one gets to provoke or instigate people. Some people know nothing else but to divide and play politics. Everyone is equal to us. There are fake tweets and pictures doing rounds. Police have been asked to act. The place is sensitive. The Hooghly DM has been asked to provide a full list of affected people.”
Her suspicions were clearly pointed towards BJP. Telinipara as a town is on the banks of River Hooghly. Most of the non-Muslims there are jute mill workers on whom BJP MP Arjun Singh has a lot of influence. His constituency of Barrackpore is on the other bank of the river. Arjun Singh had tried entering Telinipara on Wednesday after the violence had erupted. Police sources say his interest in Telinipara might not either be out of moral responsibility or a coincidence.
The story of this political Virus, in WB is causing another crisis in the state in the midst of a global crisis. I hope that humanity prevails over political agendas so we can fight this war and be victorious together in the end.
Written by: PREYA PANDYA
DATE: 21/05/2020