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The West Bengal government has said “it is not a fact” that there was no cooperation with the Central team deputed to assess the COVID-19 situation in the state and gave an assurance that it will abide by all Union government orders on lockdown.
The assurance came hours after the Centre accused the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of obstructing a Central team deputed to assess the coronavirus ground situation.
In a letter to Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, West Bengal Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said it was not a fact that the two Inter Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) have not been provided with any cooperation by the state government since he had two meetings with one team and also was in touch with the other.
“This is to convey my highest assurances for the implementation of the orders of central government issued under the Disaster Management Act as well as the directions of the Honb’le Supreme Court,” the state chief secretary told the union home secretary.
A home ministry spokesperson welcomed the West Bengal government’s assurance of cooperation to the two visiting teams.
Earlier TMC M P Derek O’Brien was critical of the selective stance of the Centre regarding sending of central teams to states as he said in a tweet,
States, incl Bengal, going all out-fighting Corona.
Unfortunately, central govt is going all out-fighting the States!Is this the spirit of federalism ?
Is this what our Constitution says ?Let’s make handling health emergency our priority. Politics can wait till winter
— Citizen Derek | নাগরিক ডেরেক (@derekobrienmp) April 21, 2020
