Lockdown sloppy, says Bengal Guv; Mamata asks him to shun politics

(Eds: Changes headine, tweaks intro, incorporatesMamata's quote)

Kolkata, Apr 15 () Unhappy over the way thelockdown is being enforced in West Bengal, Governor JagdeepDhankhar Wednesday said police and civil officials notfollowing protocol be shown the door and deployment of centralparamilitary forces be considered, drawing a sharp reactionfrom Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who advised Raj Bhavan toeschew politics in times of crisis.

"Lockdown protocol has to be thoroughly implementedto ward off #coronavirus. Police and administration@MamataOfficial failing to effect 100% #SocialDistancing orcurbing religious congregations be shown door," Dhankhartweeted.

"Lockdown must succeed-examine central para forcesrequisitioning!" the governor added.

The governor's remarks did not go down well with thechief minister, who smelt politics in them.

Why do we need paramilitary forces? There have beeninstances where military personnel themselves have beeninfected with the virus. Some people are trying to fish introubled waters. I would urge everybody this is not the timefor politics. This is a crisis situation, Banerjee said, butdid not name the governor.

The Union Home Ministry had also recently flagged"gradual dilution" of the lockdown in some parts of the state.

Most of these localities are minority-dominated, andthe state BJP unit has repeatedly alleged that lockdown wasnot being properly enforced in these areas.

The home ministry also said despite the Centre issuingorders from time to time under the Disaster Management Act,2005, these were not being followed.

Reacting to the Centre's letter, Banerjee had said theUnion government was only interested in "extra vigilance insome specific areas".

"We are not fighting any communal virus, we arefighting a disease spreading through human contact. Whereverwe find any problem, steps will be taken to ensure that thelockdown is imposed there, but that doesn't mean shops wouldremain closed... We are keeping a close watch," she had said.

Dhankhar has been at loggerheads with the stategovernment over a host of issues ever since taking office inJuly last year. SCH ACD AQSSK SK