Kolkata, (Asian independent) A video clip shared by West Bengal CPI-M State Secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra on his official social media handle has sparked sharp criticism about the state’s healthcare scenario and the medical infrastructure available at the quarantine centres across the state.
The clip, which went viral on social media, shows a Covid-19 positive patient having ‘poori-sabji’ while sitting at a quarantine centre in Jalpaiguri district.
In his post, the CPI-M leader also claimed that there was no adequate arrangement to treat Covid patients at the quarantine centre — be it expert doctors, medical staff, oxygen cylinders, medicines etc.
“The Covid situation is turning really critical in north Bengal districts owing to incessant rain and flood-like situation in various pockets. Despite repeated appeals to the state government, no improvement has been noticed so far,” Mishra, a former Health Minister during the Left Front regime, wrote on Facebook.
Mishra held Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also the state Health Minister, responsible for the deteriorating healthcare scenario.
Meanwhile, state Tourism Minister and senior Trinamool leader from north Bengal, Gautam Deb, said that the Facebook post of Mishra was politically motivated.
“He is a senior politician and I think he should behave responsibly at the time of this global pandemic. We all are trying to ensure best healthcare management across the state to save lives. In that process, a few such incidents may happen accidentally. One should not do politics over these issues at this crucial hour,” Deb said.