Mamata s officials failing to enforce lockdown be shown the door: Governor

(Eds: Clarifies governor said govt officials and notMamata Banerjee govt be shown the door, adds inputs)

Kolkata, Apr 15 () Unhappy over the way thelockdown is being enforced in West Bengal, Governor JagdeepDhankhar said on Wednesday the police and administrativeofficials not following the protocol be shown the door anddepoloyment of central paramilitary forces be considered.

"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 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 AQS SKSK SK