Opposition parties in Bengal criticised the Trinamul Congress on Friday for allegedly flouting social distancing protocol while observing the foundation day of its student wing.
Members of the Trinamul Congress Chhatra Parishat gathered in large numbers in different parts of the state to listen to party chief Mamata Banerjee’s virtual address.
“The chief minister is using Covid-19 to silence the voice of the Opposition by not allowing any gathering. But her party is organising meetings, where social distancing norms are violated. This is a double standard,” CPM lawmaker Sujan Chakraborty said.
TMCP president Trinankur Bhattacharya, however, said all social distancing norms had been maintained at its gatherings. “In some of the larger spaces, about 500 people gathered, while the crowd was not more than that of 50 persons each at smaller points.”
Friday was also the 68th foundation day of the students’ wing of the Congress. However, in view of the pandemic, the administration denied permission for an event the party had planned. “While the TMCP can be allowed to gather hundreds of members inside a single auditorium to listen to the chief minister’s virtual rally, the Congress didn’t get permission to observe its event as planned,” read a statement by the Congress.
The BJP has been alleging that the total lockdown on August 28 had been withdrawn to allow the TMCP to observe its foundation day. “Multiple cases have been registered against me and my colleagues accusing us of violating social distancing norms. What was the police doing today?” asked BJP leader Sayantan Basu.
The Opposition parties alleged that the TMCP event was not the only one where social distancing norms were violated. “At a Trinamul event on Sunday, around 1,600 people turned out at an auditorium with a seating capacity of close to 1,400 in East Burdwan,” said a police source.