PM's COVID-19 meeting with CMs super flop, insulting: Mamata
What's the story
Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Chief Ministers on the COVID-19 situation was a super flop, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that she along with her counterparts of many states were not allowed to speak, which was akin to insulting them. She also claimed that only CMs of the BJP-ruled states were allowed to speak.
Humiliation
We were humiliated and reduced to puppets: Banerjee
"This was a casual meeting where CMs of other states were reduced to puppets," Banerjee said, who had recently started her third term in power in West Bengal. "We feel insulted and humiliated. This is an attempt to bulldoze the federal structure of the country. PM Modi is so insecure that he did not listen to us," Banerjee said at the state secretariat Nabanna.
West Bengal
Prime Minister did not inquire about West Bengal's situation: Banerjee
Banerjee said the Prime Minister neither asked how West Bengal is handling the COVID-19 situation nor did he inquire about the stock of vaccines, oxygen, or other medical equipment. "There was not a single question from the PM about the black fungus," the Chief Minister said, adding that four such cases have been detected in the state.
COVID-19
Banerjee challenged PM's claim that cases are declining
Referring to the PM's claim that the COVID-19 caseload is reducing in the country, Banerjee asked, "If the total number of cases is declining, why are so many deaths due to the coronavirus infection being reported." The Chief Minister also alleged that the central government has no proper plans in dealing with the COVID-19 situation in the country.
COVID-19 numbers
India has recorded over 2.57 crore cases, 2.87 lakh deaths
According to the Union Health Ministry, till Thursday morning, India reported a total of 2,57,72,400 COVID-19 cases. The death toll has reached 2,87,122. So far, 2,23,55,440 patients have recovered, while 31,29,878 cases involve active infections. In the past 24 hours alone, India recorded 2,76,070 new infections, 3,69,077 more discharges, and 3,874 fresh fatalities. 18,70,09,792 vaccine doses have been administered so far.