West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked the Union government not to play politics even as the nation is battling the coronavirus pandemic.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video conference with chief ministers, Banerjee said West Bengal is doing its best to combat the virus. "The Centre should not play politics in this crucial time. We are surrounded by international borders and other bigger states and have challenges to deal with," the chief minister was quoted as saying.
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According to media reports, the West Bengal chief minister said the Centre had favourites among states even in the time of crisis. "Nobody ever asks our opinion," NDTV quoted Banerjee as saying. "All the states should be given equal importance and we should work together as Team India," the chief minister, reportedly, said.
The Union government had recently slammed the West Bengal government saying the COVID-19 management in the state is poor as there is a low rate of testing and high mortality rate when compared to the rest of the country. The Union government and the state government were also at cross-purposes over movement of goods vehicles through the India-Bangladesh border.
Earlier on Monday, the BJP had accused the West Bengal chief minister of "misleading" people on the extent of coronavirus cases in the state by "hiding" its real numbers. "When West Bengal has been hit by COVID-19, then where have you hidden Mamata ji? People of your state want to know where are you and what are you doing? The state's people and Bengali labourers outside have been pleading you for help," BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said.
The BJP has accused the West Bengal government of mishandling the crisis, while the TMC has said the saffron party has used the Union government machinery for political purposes.
(With PTI inputs)
