Bengal government's showdown with Centre over COVID-19 ends as IMCT teams begin tour
Kolkata/IBNS: An ugly confrontation between the West Bengal government and the Centre finally ended as the two Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (ICMTs) began its tour in seven districts across the state to take a stock of the Coronavirus situation.
The showdown began after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Centre of compromising the structure of federalism by sending the two teams without informing the state.
Banerjee accused the Centre of informing her about the teams' visit to the state hours after the officials had landed in the Kolkata airport.
I urge both Honb’le Prime Minister @NarendraModi Ji & Home Minister @AmitShah Ji to share the criterion used for this. Until then I am afraid, we would not be able to move ahead on this as without valid reasons this might not be consistent with the spirit of federalism. (2/2)
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 20, 2020
An IMCT official had said it was only West Bengal which was not cooperating with the Centre though the teams were also sent to three other states, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan,
"We will ask them (the two IMCT teams) the reason for their visit to the state. If they can't satisfy us, we won't let them visit the districts," Sinha said in a press conference at state secretariat Nabanna on Monday evening.
Later Banerjee even went to the extent of writing a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing her grievance against the Centre for sending the teams to the eastern state without prior intimation.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee wrote: "While I appreciate the pro-activeness shown by the Central Government in sending their teams to West Bengal, the same was done without prior intimation and hence is a breach of established protocol."
The showdown found its exit route when the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote a fresh letter warning the state of action if not cooperated prompting West Bengal to agree to allow the central officials to work in the seven districts.
The seven districts where the officials will be touring are Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
(Image Credit: IBNS File)
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