Kolkata: Hours after taking oath as the chief minister of West Bengal for the third term, Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced various steps to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the state. Banerjee extended restrictions under the ongoing partial lockdown in the state in the backdrop of the rising COVID-19 positive cases
Announcing extensive restrictions across the state, Chief Minister said shopping complexes, gyms, cinema halls, beauty parlours will remain close in West Bengal. Local trains will be suspended from tomorrow and Friday onwards, those entering the state will have to show a negative Covid test report.
While on Wednesday, afternoon the chief minister was announcing the extended restrictions including complete halt of local train services till further notice at the state secretariat of Nabanna, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda was present at a protest demonstration along with the newly elected party MLAs and senior BJP leaders in front of the party’s state headquarter in central Kolkata.
Nadda, who is on a two-day visit to West Bengal to take stock of the post-poll violence, on Wednesday said that Mamata Banerjee has started her third term as chief minister with blood on her hands.
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Briefing the media persons, the BJP chief said, "The manner in which massacre and brutal killings took place and the manner in which the acting chief minister stayed silent for 36 hours speaks of her involvement. Mamata Ji's silence speaks about her involvement and she starts her third term with blood on her hands."
"I condemn the brutal killings which have taken place after the results. We also stand by the people of Bengal and all citizens residing in Bengal with whom such incidents took place. This makes me remember the partition days. I remember August 16, 1946, Direct Action Day. When I recall that day, I also recall incidents that took place post noon of May 2. We have to keep in mind that May 2 has become 'khela hobe' day. We have to remember what Mamata ji said in Nandigram and what happened here," stated Nadda.
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Earlier in the day, after her oath- taking ceremony, the chief minister appealed to all political parties to take appropriate steps to maintain peace in the state. “The people of West Bengal hate violence. I will be forced to take strong action against those who will be spreading violence,” she said.
Meanwhile, besides ordering a complete halt in the local train services till further notice, the chief minister also said that state transport and metro rail services will also be reduced by 50 %. She also said that the private sector should operate with 50% staff strength till further order.
