On the 9th of June, Amit Shah, the Home Minister of India, lashed out at Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, over her Corona Express remark.
Amit Shah said, “The name “Corona Express” given by Mamata Banerjee to migrant trains will become her “exit route” from Bengal.”
Addressing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers online on the 9th of June, Mr. Shah said, “The name ‘Corona Express’ that you have given, Mamata didi, will become your exit route. You’ve added salt to the wounds of the migrant workers and they will not forget this.”
Recently, Mamata Banerjee criticised the Central Government for running Shramik Express for migrants and termed it as Corona Express, spreading the virus in the State.
Ms. Banerjee said, “They (the Central Government) are stuffing the Shramik trains full of people, there is no social distancing, no food, no water, nothing,” the Bengal Chief Minister had said. “What are they trying to do? Are they running Shramik trains or are they trying to run Corona Express.”
Recalling her days as the Railway Minister, Ms. Banerjee said, “I was rail minister. I know we have enough rakes. They can easily make the trains longer and stop crowding the trains full of people for 48 hours with no water and no food.”
While Mamata Banerjee did not respond to the comments of Amit Shah, Ms. Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, took to Twitter and criticised Mr. Shah.
Abhishek Banerjee said, “Amit Shah Ji, Bengal has not heard you speak during these times of crisis.”
Respected @AmitShah Ji, Bengal has not heard you speak during these times of crisis, but we hope today you would take a minute to answer this:
“Are the Chinese occupying our territory or not?”
“চীন আমাদের ভূমির অংশ দখল করছে কি না?”
— Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) June 9, 2020
Meanwhile, West Bengal witnessed big spike of cases, especially after the State was hit by Amphan cyclone.
The State recorded a total of 8,613 cases of the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 with 4,743 active cases, 3,465 recovered/discharged and 405 deceased till the 9th of June.
