There were noisy scenes in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Thursday, with legislators of the BJP demanding a statement from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the viral outbreak in the State, that had claimed the lives of several children in the past few weeks.
The BJP legislatures moved an adjournment motion but it was not allowed by the Speaker Biman Banerjee. This prompted protests by BJP legislators who raised slogans, held posters and walked out of the House.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, made a statement in the State Assembly where she said that majority of the children who died, had comorbidities along with acute respiratory infections (ARI). Ms. Banerjee also holds the portfolio of the State’s Health Department. The BJP legislators said the situation in the State because of the viral surge was alarming, and accused the State government for not taking adequate steps to contain the situation.
Leader of the Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari told journalists in the State Assembly that the State government had been trying to hide facts and figures about the number of cases and deaths of children. Another BJP MLA Sankar Ghosh said that there were a huge number of cases being referred to hospitals in Kolkata.
Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya accused the Opposition BJP of behaving “irresponsibly”. “The Opposition makes it a point to remain absent whenever the Chief Minister delivers a speech in the House,” she said, pointing out that the CM had already made a statement in the House on the issue.
According to the Chief Minister, 19 children had died so far but unofficial figures showed that the number would be more than 100. Paediatric hospitals in the city over the last few weeks have been flooded with patients in the districts with ARI infections.
