No CMs allowed to speak in PM Modi's 'casual, super-flop' Covid meeting: Mamata Banerjee

Banerjee, however, said DMs of some states were allowed to speak in the meeting which was called by Modi, who is receiving heavy criticism over his handling of the second wave of pandemic.

Immediately after the conclusion of the meeting, which was attended by Chief Ministers and DMs of 10 states, Banerjee said, "The meeting was casual and a super flop. We were astonished that all the Chief Ministers were made to sit like puppets in the meeting. If we are not allowed to speak, then how could we raise people’s issues?"

"The meeting was the 'One Nation, All Humiliation' meeting. It is an insult to the state and an attack on the federal structure of the country," she said and questioned, "Are we bonded laborers?"

Banerjee said she would have discussed not just Covid, but also Black Fungus and vaccination strategy in the meeting if she was allowed to speak.

The Chief Minister said she would have asked the Prime Minister about the extension of the interval between the two doses of vaccines.

"I also wanted to ask the Prime Minister about the interval between the two doses of vaccines. Is there any study or research behind the interval? We all are in a dilemma. We don't know what was happening," she said and added, "We would vaccinate all people within three months if we get enough vaccines."

In a recent decision, the central government has extended the interval between two doses of Covishield vaccine from six-eight weeks to 12-16 weeks.

Several opposition leaders have termed the Centre's decision a strategy to cover up the shortage of vaccines across the country.

The Chief Minister has accused Modi of maintaining a casual approach towards the Covid-19 situation.

"The Prime Minister said in the meeting that Coronavirus cases have reduced. If cases have reduced, then why are so many deaths occurring? The spike in Covid-19 occurred due to this kind of negligence," Banerjee, who was visibly angry, said.

Banerjee, during her press brief from state headquarters Nabanna, attacked Modi for going ahead with the Central Vista project of a huge expenditure at a time the country is reeling under the threat of Coronavirus with the entire health infrastructure virtually collapsing.

Stressing on the need to vaccinate people as early as possible, she said, "They are not giving vaccines but building new parliament and statues," and said, "If we go by his (Modi's) formula, it would take 10 years to vaccinate the entire population of the country."

Though she skipped commenting on the ongoing Narada case in the Calcutta High Court as the "matter is subjudice", Banerjee called the arrests of her cabinet ministers, Firhad Hakim and Subrata Mukherjee, and two others in the sting operation case a "political vendetta".

"They have time for vendetta politics but they have no time for the states to speak. It is an insult to the states," the Chief Minister said.