Mamata reiterates stern action against trouble maker, Union Minister survives brick batting in West Medinipur

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday reiterated stern action if anyone found indulging in violence and announced Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of those killed in post result violence, even as Union Minister V Muraleedharan while visiting West Medinipur allegedly survived a brick batting.

“Not even 24 hours passed after assuming my office I got a stern letter (law and order) on Wednesday evening and the central team (4-member) and a central minister started visiting the state. Why these? Let the BJP must accept the people’s mandate and the Centre must cooperate with me to fight the surging covid,” Ms Banerjee told a media conference at Nabanna.

“We are now fighting a grim battle covid and if anyone comes from outside he or she (even) or the minister must produce RT-PCR certificate (no covid) or else they would not be allowed to enter. Even the people and business personnel visiting the state with special flight must produce such certificates for safety of all,” Ms Banerjee said

A report from West Medinipur said Union Minister of State for External Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs Vellamvelly Muraleedharan has survived brick batting while visiting some wounded BJP supporters’ homes there.

“Yes I was attacked with brick batting by the TMC supporters in which cars of mine and security were vandalised as the windshield broken in which one of the drivers received wounds,” Mr Muraleedhanan said.

In Kolkata, the chief minister said the BJP supporters and their leaders were provoking the violence even as 24 hours had not passed since taking office of the chief minister.

“The MCC (model code of conduct) was enforced prior to my taking charge and let me work now instead of sending the central team and central minister in the state,” the chief minister, who was sworn in at 1045 hours on Wednesday for the third time in a row, said.

She said among the 16 killed half of them TMC and other half from BJP and one from Sanjukta Morcha and announced a relief of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the victims

She also said TMC leader Udhayan Guha was attacked today at Dinhata in Cooch Behar his right arm broken. She said the BJP had made good results there and too much violence was reported from that district.

Ms Banerjee said the government has set up a CID probe into the death sof five people at Sitalkuchi on March 10, the 4th round polling.

She said her government has sanctioned Rs 5 lakh each to the surviving family and a government job to each one of the family.

The chief minister also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to fulfil the promise of PM Kishan Nidhi of Rs 18,000 each to the farmers.

She also announced setting up oxygen plants to 105 government hospitals across the state in a time-bound manner to fill the gap of oxygen supplies. She said the district authorities have been asked to use the local resources and set up plants. Already two such plants one at Diamond Harbour and another at Cooch Behar have been set up.

The government also directed to enhance 40 per cent beds for covid treatment in the hospitals, which to go up to around 30,000 beds across the state. (UNI)