Mamata Banerjee and PM Narendra Modi (Pictures/Businesses)
NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a pointy assault on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on the latest bridge collapse in Mirik. Focusing on PM Modi, Banerjee mentioned that Bengal is “not Gujarat,” referencing the 2022 Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat, which claimed over 130 lives.Banerjee highlighted the severity of the floods and landslides in North Bengal, which has claimed not less than 32 lives, with a number of others lacking, and hundreds stranded. “It has rained heavily across the country — just look at how many people have died in Uttarakhand. I won’t name other places, because I don’t play politics over natural disasters,” she mentioned, including, “I remember when a bridge collapsed during the Left Front government. See, there are bridges that have been standing for 100 to 150 years. We had already started building a new bridge in Mirik, and it will be inaugurated before the next monsoon. In the meantime, we are also constructing a temporary bridge, which will be completed in 15 days.”On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the lack of lives within the Darjeeling bridge collapse. He additionally mentioned he’s “closely monitoring” the scenario and reaffirmed the Centre’s dedication to offering help to all these affected.The West Bengal chief minister additionally criticised the central authorities over alleged lack of help and sources. “You do not give funds to Bengal for flood relief. How does BJP make tall claims?” she mentioned, whereas additionally taking a swipe at airfare hikes from Bagdogra to Kolkata. “You provided flood relief somewhere due to elections. You will fill your coffers for elections but you do not have funds for floods”“But you raised the Bagdogra-Kolkata airfare to Rs 18,000; a flight ticket via Delhi costs Rs 40,000 now. This is a horrifying conduct of a horrifying government.”Mamata Banerjee confirmed that reduction operations are underway within the affected areas. “As far as the things here (flood-affected areas in WB) are concerned, I am sending all the relief materials. I sent 400 packets to Mirik yesterday. Kits are being sent to Nagrakata, Siliguri, Maynaguri, and Alipurduar. I have sent my Panchayat Minister. We are doing all relief works,” she mentioned. She additionally met 21 displaced households and introduced that 500 reduction kits, together with blankets, rice, dal, dry meals, and milk, had been distributed. About 1,000 stranded vacationers have been safely evacuated in 45 buses.Banerjee addressed assaults on BJP leaders Khagen Murmu and Shankar Ghosh whereas they have been visiting flood-hit areas, noting, “I met him (Khagen Murmu), he is a little injured in his ears. But he is diabetic, so he is under observation. I wish him a speedy recovery.” She additionally condemned the assault on the TMC workplace in Tripura, with MP Saayoni Ghosh saying, “We condemn this…we are going to assess the situation and give a message to our workers that they are not alone.”The chief minister mentioned rehabilitation work is progressing with new roads being inbuilt Rohini, a brief bridge beneath building in Mirik, and repairs ongoing at Nagrakata. She promised a private go to subsequent week to supervise the reduction efforts. “Next week I will be going again to oversee the relief work by myself. We will also have to make arrangements for the jobs we have promised (to the deceased) in the next 15 days,” she mentioned.
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