Mamata urges Modi, Shah to share criteria for lockdown assessment by central teams

Kolkata, Apr 20 () West Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee on Monday sought to know the rationale behindthe formation of six Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs)to assess the enforcement of lockdown norms in states.

She urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union HomeMinister Amit Shah to share criteria for the assessment,without which her government "would not be able to moveahead".

"We welcome all constructive support & suggestions,especially from the Central Govt in negating the #Covid19crisis. However, the basis on which Centre is proposing todeploy IMCTs in select districts across India including few inWB under Disaster Mgmt Act 2005 is unclear, Banerjee tweeted.

"I urge both Honble Prime Minister @NarendraModi Ji &Home Minister @AmitShah Ji to share the criterion used forthis. Until then I am afraid, we would not be able to moveahead on this as without valid reasons this might not beconsistent with the spirit of federalism," she added.

The Centre has constituted six IMCTs for on-spotassessment of the COVID-19 situation in Madhya Pradesh,Maharashtra, Rajasthan and West Bengal.

"The IMCTs will focus on compliance and implementationof the lockdown measures as per guidelines, supply ofessential commodities, social distancing, preparedness ofhealth infrastructure, safety of health professionals andconditions of relief camps for labourers and poor people," ahome ministry spokesperson said.

The Centre had recently flagged the "gradual dilution"of the lockdown norms in West Bengal. SCH RMSSK SK