Bengal leaders welcome extension of nationwide lockdown
Kolkata, May 1 (IANS) With the Centre extending the nationwide lockdown till May 17, leaders of different political parties in West Bengal have welcomed the move, saying that is the “need of the hour.”
Meanwhile, the Centre-state conflict reached a new high on Friday with Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government writing a letter to the former over “incorrect reporting of the total number of containment zones” across the state.
The state government is already opposed to the “erroneous assessment” of the Covid-19 situation of the Central team where they have shown 10 red zone districts across Bengal.
Earlier, state Principal Health Secretary Vivek Kumar had informed the Union Health Ministry on Thursday that there were only four red zones districts in the state — Kolkata, Howrah, North 24-Parganas and East Midnapore.
Trinamool Congress leader Rahul Chakraborty said that they have accepted the extension of the lockdown till May 17, but the guidelines relaxation especially in ‘orange zones’ and ‘green zones’ are not welcome as that may further increase the figures of Covid-19 infection.
“I don’t understand the logic behind the relaxation in orange zones and green zones. I don’t think they have done it in consultation with all state governments,” he said.
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said that earlier the state government had announced that the lockdown would continue till May 21. Now the Centre has said the lockdown will continue till May 17.
“We have nothing to oppose as this lockdown is the only alternative we have for now. But our appeal to both the Centre and state government is to look after the economic aspect of poor people in the country. They are facing a really tough time,” said Chakraborty.
Senior state Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya said that it’s good that the lockdown has been extended till May 17. But the Centre should also look at the economic aspect of the country during the Covid-19 crisis.
“The government should prepare a complete blueprint for economic recovery of the nation once normalcy is restored after the Covid-19 situation,” said Bhattacharya.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national secretary Rahul Sinha said: “There is no other way but to maintain this lockdown in the country. The figures are increasing. I understand that people are having a very tough time. But the Centre and state governments are jointly working to bring back its people from outside states.”
Sinha said the situation in Bengal is really grim. “We appeal to the state government to maintain the ongoing lockdown till May 17,” he added.
–IANS
sbn/prs
