Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday attacked the BJP for playing dirty politics at a time when the State is passing through bad times.

“I do not want to name people who are vitiating the affairs of the State... But there are some political parties who are taking advantage of the current crisis after corona pandemic and super cyclone Amphan hit Bengal. They are playing dirty game to win political mileage. At a time when our Government is trying its best to fight out the crisis these political parties are talking about toppling it,” Banerjee said asking “Is it the time to play politics taking advantage of a crisis that has hit the large cross section of people?”

She said, “They (BJP) are talking of  throwing me out of power. But have I said the same thing about Prime Minister Narendra Modi? Have I called for throwing Modi out of power? I have never said that Modiji should be removed. So why are they disturbing me here... This is not the time to play politics”

Attacking the BJP leadership for sitting back in the safety of their houses when her party men were out fighting corona and reaching relief to the distressed people she said “these leaders were in hiding in the cool comforts of their houses and now they have suddenly come out to take political advantage of the situation.” 

Hitting back the BJP said it was the Chief Minister who was politicizing the issue and not the BJP. Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha said, “the Chief Minister’s Government is stopping the BJP men from traveling to the cyclone-hit areas whereas they are allowing the CPI(M) and Congress to reach relief because she is afraid of our growing popularity.

 To fight corona she did not bring in doctors or nurses from outside but she brought in election strategist Prashant Kishore to tour the affected region... If this is not politics then what is?”

Meanwhile, a seven-member central team is visiting Bengal to evaluate the post Amphan situation. The team led by senior IAS officer Anuj Sharma on Friday visited Amphan affected areas of North and South 24 Parganas.

The team is expected to meet the State Chief Secretary on Saturday. The State Government has prepared a report showing a damage of Rs 80,000 crore, sources said.