My first priority is COVID, free vaccine for all in Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said that her first priority now is to handle the COVID-19 crisis in the state. She said that “despite the landslide victory”, there won’t be a major rally or even a big swearing-in ceremony in the state.

She said that she would give free vaccine to all the people in the state and request the Centre to provide free vaccine for all across the country. “If the Centre doesn’t provide free vaccine, I will start an ahimsa andolan at the Gandhi Murti site in Kolkata,” she said.

She also appealed to her party supporters to not take out victory rallies. “Once we handle the COVID situation, we will organise a victory rally at the Brigade Parade Ground, but that announcement will be done later,” she said.

Banerjee said that the Centre, Central government agencies, the Election Commission had attacked her. “The Election Commission behaved like a spokesperson of the BJP, and when I complained to them about Nandigram booth capture, they did not believe it,” she said.

Bengal has announced an indefinite partial lockdown since Saturday, with essential services available during a specified time.