New Delhi: The West Bengal Government had restrained the Central teams to inspect the Covid- 19 cases in Kolkata and Jalpaiguri. According to the Home Ministry spokesperson Punya Salila Srivatsava, Maharashtra and Rajasthan Government were fully cooperating with inter- Ministerial teams sent to boost anti-Covid- 19 actions.

But the West Bengal Government had restrained the teams sent to Kolkata and Jalpaiguri from functioning, escalating the political battle with TMC. The Bengal Government’s action amounted to obstructing the implementation of the order issued on Monday under the Disaster Management Act where state authorities were asked to make arrangements for the inter- Ministerial central teams to assess the ground situation.

The West Bengal Government has not been provided with the requisite cooperation by the State and local authorities. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla in a letter to the Bengal Chief Secretary said that they have been specifically restrained from making any visit, interacting with the health professionals and assessing the ground situation.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamatha Benerjee viewing the move as an attack on the Federal scheme of Governance. The TMC accused the Centre of playing politics at a time when states and the centre are expected to work together to combat Covid-19. Mamatha Benerjee wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi protesting breaking of Federal norms.