Coronavirus | Bengal govt. in data cover-up operation, says Governor

The Bengal CM accused the Governor of preaching and sermonising constitutional norms “without practising it and violating it”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. File

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday asked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to share the data relating to COVID-19 “transparently.” He alleged that the government was engaged in a “COVID-19 data cover-up operation.”

And the Trinamool Congress leadership criticised the Governor for his remarks, without answering the issues raised by him.

The Governor took to Twitter, sharing images of a letter written by Health Department Principal Secretary Vivek Kumar to the Centre on April 30 that contained district-wise number of

COVID-19 cases. In addition to all the cases mentioned in the letter, the number of total cases in the State stands at 931. The bulletin released on April 30 states that the number of “active cases” is 572.

Mr. Dhankhar asked why the bulletin on May 1 was not released. “Give up ‘Covid-19 data cover up operation’ ⁦@MamataOfficial and share it transparently. Health bulletin 30/4 No of Active Covid cases 572. No health bulletin on May 1!! Information to central Government No of cases 931,” (on April 30), his tweet read.

He said the gap between the two figures 572 and 931 was “not reconcilable”.

“”Gap between 572 and 931 not reconcilable even if recovered/dead r (are) considered. Coordination lack awful when people r (are) suffering untold miseries.For way forward @MamataOfficial withdraw ‘political parties r vultures in wait of dead bodies’ and take all on board,” he stated.

Letter made public

Hours later, a letter, without the signature of any State official, was made public by officials. Composed in a plain white paper, it was not addressed to anyone. It was a reply to the Governor’s letter to Ms Banerjee on April 24. It is understood to have been written by the Chief Minister to the Governor, albeit unsigned.

Referring to the remarks made by the Governor’s letter, a week ago, Saturday’s letter stated that the tone and tenor of the Governor to an elected Chief Minister was “unprecedented in the annals of Indian political history.”

While the letter does not venture into the questions raised by the Governor about the anomaly in the number of COVID-19 cases, the 13-page document of Saturday noted that if “you [the Governor]are unable to reconcile to reality, you should have chosen my seat [the Chief Minister] instead of yours. “Please do not attempt to destroy the singularity of the real executive organ of the State and please do not dream of a diarchy in the State,” the letter said.

Meanwhile, hectic activity was noticed in the State Secretariat.

The Trinamool Congress leadership criticised the Governor for his remarks. While Kolkata’s Mayor Firhad Hakim said there was no reason why the government would hide any data from public, party’s MP Kalyan Banerjee said the only “agenda of the Governor is to target the Chief Minister.”

Leader of the Left Legislature party Sujan Chakraborty said it did not matter whether the Governor or someone else raised these points. The points relating to the data were pertinent and the Chief Minister was trying to deflect the attention by getting into exchange of letters with the Governor, he noted.