Coronavirus: Anupam Hazra is the new national secretary for West Bengal.
Calcutta:
A BJP leader, who had said he would kiss West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee if he contracted COVID-19, has tested positive for the virus.
“Covid Positive,” Anupam Hazra, West Bengal’s new national secretary, posted today on his Facebook page. Mr Hazra has been admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata, health officials said according to the PTI news agency.
He had complained of discomfort and his samples were tested for the coronavirus, the report of which came back as positive, officials said.
A police complaint was filed against Mr Hazra earlier this week after his controversial “Covid hug” statement.
On Sunday, Anupam Hazra, a former MP from Bolpur in Bengal, who joined the BJP in January 2019, reportedly said: “If one day I find Covid positive, I will go to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and give her a hug. . She will understand the pain of those who suffered from the disease and lost their loved ones during the pandemic. “
Mr Harza made the remark a day after being appointed secretary by the BJP, replacing Rahul Sinha who expressed his anger at a loyal party worker having to make way to “welcome” a setback from Trinamool.
A complaint has been filed by the Trinamool Congress refugee cell for derogatory remarks against a woman and head of state. She brought an action against Mr. Hazra for denigrating a public figure, who is a woman, in violation of the Constitution and for harming the feelings of the plaintiffs. The police complaint was lodged at the Siliguri Police Station in Darjeeling District.
BJP leaders in Bengal had moved away from Mr. Hazra’s comment. “Those in positions of responsibility should be careful what they speak,” said new BJP vice-president Mukul Roy.
West Bengal has more than 2.6 lakh coronavirus cases with 5,017 deaths.
(With PTI entries)
