Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that the Bengal government had rescheduled dates of complete lockdown because of festivals and sought to address concerns over rumours of district/townwise weeklong complete lockdown.

“We have already given you some dates for the lockdown, for the complete lockdown. Saturday is the next one. After that, August 9 was planned, but there is a tribal occasion (International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples)…. So, after Saturday, August 2021. 2728 and 31,” the chief minister told a news conference at Nabanna on Thursday.

On July 28, she had announced complete lockdown on August 2, 5, 8, 9, 16, 17, 23, 24 and 31. Later that night, August 2 and 9 were dropped from the list.

But the Opposition and apolitical netizens were outraged when the dates were changed again on Monday.

“Everything has to be seen... In this, we have Manasa Puja, on August 17, so that date had to be changed. Janmashtami (on August 11), Parsi New Year’s Day on August 16… all of this had to be factored in. These festivals and occasions have been taking place in Bengal. Nothing new,” said Mamata.

Although the saffron camp had mounted a hate campaign against her over complete lockdown in the state on Wednesday — the day of the bhoomi pujan at Ayodhya — the Trinamul Congress chief steered clear of trying to explain that choice of date.

“Everything has to be accounted for in taking these decisions. We still have to break the chain using this complete lockdown method, which is scientific… two days at a |time, wherever possible,” she said.

Mamata went on to soothe nerves over rumours of district specific or townwise complete lockdown by districts administrations over several days.

“Some lockdowns in the districts, being carried out by the district magistrates and the district police chiefs. That is not related to the state (government). This was advised by the Centre, that district magistrates could exercise discretion and do this in their containment areas, on |a needbased basis,” said |Mamata.

“I am sure they are not going to shut a whole district down. Some neighbourhoods, some areas, where infections are high or chances are high. At those places, the district administration sometimes implement localised lockdowns. Not complete, mind you, but containment areabased lockdowns,” she added. “There is a great deal of difference between complete lockdowns and this.”

Sources said the chief minister had been aware of panic being triggered over widely circulated “information” on social media regarding complete lockdown in the districts and wanted to convey a message of calm.

“Complete lockdowns, only the state government can declare, which we have done. These are specific to a village, or a ward, or a neighbourhood,” she said.

“Where four six cases have suddenly been found, it has to be done, there is no way out… maybe just one small road, or neighbourhood, or area, nothing larger.”

“But not three days at one go… or seven days. No more than two days in a row… in small areas. Where there is no need, there will not be such measures. Where there is need, it must be done, for the sake of the people,” she added.