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CM Mamata Banerjee replaces Health Secretary following a row with opposition challenging Coronavirus data

nabanna flooded with letters : মিটিং-মিছিল বন্ধ ...

AMIDST allegation by the opposition about manipulating  COVID-19 data by West Bengal government, Health Secretary Vivek Kumar, 1990 batch of IAS officer,  has been moved to the Environment Department. Narayan Swaroop Nigam, a 1998 batch  IAS officer was the Transport Secretary, has been named as his replacement, as per notification. The state government’s notification said that Kumar will take charge as Principal Secretary of the State’s Environment Department. This is the third such reshuffle of IAS officers in the past three weeks.  Before Kumar, Manoj Agarwal, the principal secretary, food and supplies, Subrata Gupta, principal secretary, urban development and municipal affairs, were sent out of their respective departments. Two district magistrates have also been transferred during the same period. Recently, The Inter-Ministerial Central Team that visited the eastern state was not satisfied with measures taken by the authorities entrusted with the task of combating the coronavirus. It has slammed them for low testing, weak surveillance, and discrepancies in reporting cases. Participating in the video conference with prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, May 11, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Centre of “playing politics and ignoring the states”. She took on the PM, Home Minister Amit Shah as well as Central government officials, questioning their actions in the midst of a pandemic. Governor Jagdeep Dhankar has gone on record alleging mismanaging COVID -19 fight and corruption in the Public Distribution System. There were also protests in rural areas for maladministration in the PDS. Reacting to the Home Secretary’s replacement, BJP spokesman Amit Malviya said “Bengal Chief Minister finally relents under pressure, makes a media appearance. One hopes she will address all concerns raised by several doctors’ forum, migrant workers, students, ensure correct COVID data and fix law & order situation, which is spiralling out”. (picture courtesy: Eisamay)

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