Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses poll rally ahead of upcoming elections.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday blamed the Centre saying she wanted to give free coronavirus vaccines to the people of the state but the Modi government is not allowing it to happen.
Addressing a poll rally in Bengal's Jhargram, Mamata Banerjee blamed the Modi government for creating obstacles to allow access to her government for providing free vaccines to the people.
Mamata further slammed the BJP and said, "Narendra Modi promised to vaccinate people of Bihar after coming to power, during elections. But did they provide vaccines? No, they did not, they lied."
The Bengal Chief Minister asked people not to vote for the BJP in the upcoming elections as they won't be able to follow their dharma.
"Don’t vote for BJP otherwise, you won't be able to follow your 'dharma'. You will have to say 'Jai Shree Ram', you will not be able to say 'Jai Siya Ram'. Lord Ram used to worship Maa Durga because she is much bigger in stature," she said.
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Earlier in the day, Mamata Banerjee skipped a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with chief ministers of different states on the
recent surge in COVID-19 cases in some parts of the country.
Banerjee could not attend the meeting as she was busy campaigning for the state elections, a top state government official said.
Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay attended the meeting that happened through the virtual mode, he said. At the meeting, Bandyopadhyay raised the issue of the need for more COVID-19 vaccine doses in West Bengal, the official said.
The COVID-19 situation has been deteriorating in some parts of the country, raising concern over a possible second wave. The Centre has urged the states concerned to step up containment efforts wherever needed.
(With inputs from PTI)
