Mamata accuses BJP IT cell of spreading fake news on Bengal

Kolkata, Apr 6 () West Bengal Chief MinisterMamataBanerjee on Monday slammed the BJP's IT cell forallegedlyspreading fake news against the state's healthdepartment over COVID-19 cases and asked it to refrain from'petty politics' in the time of crisis.

Her comments came in the backdrop of BJPs IT cellchief Amit Malviyas tweet accusing the West Bengalgovernmentof hiding the coronavirus data. She, however, didnot name the BJP or Malviya.

Banerjee also announced the formation of a 'GlobalAdvisory Board', a policy making body which will aid thestategovernment in preparing a roadmap for COVID-19 responseinBengal. Nobel Laureate Abhjit Banerjee will be a member ofthe board.

"A political party's IT cell is using fake news tomalign West Bengal's health department. Our doctors andhealth staff are doing their best to fight the disease. Thisis notthe time for petty politics. We never pointed at thelacunas of the central government in dealing with the crisis,"shetold a press conference here.

"They may be more interested in politics by clangingutensils and bursting crackers, but we are not," she said,apparently targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over hispublic campaigns involving people in applauding the coronafighters and in a symbolic show of national solidarity.