WB guv asks state govt to heed MHA warnings over 'gradual dilution' of lockdown curbs

Kolkata, Apr 13 () West Bengal Governor JagdeepDhankhar on Monday urged the state government to pay heed tothe Centre's warnings against "gradual dilution" of lockdown,and said officials should be held accountable for theirlapses, if any.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had last week flaggedconcerns over "gradual dilution" of the shutdown order in WestBengal, and asked the state to take necessary action to ensurestrict adherence of social distancing norms, following reportsof alleged violation in Murshidabad and Siliguri.

Taking to twitter, Dhankhar, who had earlier expresseddissatisfaction over the fact that the "government was notkeeping him in loop about measures being taken to tackleCOVID-19", said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should "endlockdown" with Raj Bhawan.

"Urge @MamataOfficial to end Lockdown with Raj Bhawan.We are in combat mode #CoronaPandemic and must act intogetherness in State interest. MHA warnings must lead tocorrectional approach. Officials be held accountable forlapses #SocialDistancing and religious congregations," heposted on his Twitter handle.

In another tweet, he asked the state government toshun politics and take MHA warnings seriously.

"Lockdown extension calls for greater vigilance. Allmust give 100% in fight #CoronaPandemic. Home Ministry warningbe taken @MamataOfficial seriously-politics kept away," thegovernor said.

Amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown, a war of wordshad broken out between the Centre and the TMC government inWest Bengal, with the Union Home Ministry objecting toreligious gatherings and sale of non-essential items in partsof the state, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hitting backwith the assertion that the country was not fighting any"communal virus" but a disease.

The state government had on Saturday announced thatthe lockdown would be extended till April 30, and alleducational institutes would remain closed till June 10. PNTRMS RMS