MHA seeks Bengal reports on docs, violence

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued an advisory to the West Bengal government on the ongoing strike by doctors and urgently sought a report on the matter. "The Ministry is in receipt of a number of representations from doctors, health care professionals and medical associations from different parts of country for their safety and security in view of the ongoing strike by doctors in West Bengal. It is requested that a detailed report be sent urgently on the representations and ongoing strike by the doctors," stated the advisory.

The Centre has also sought another report from the West Bengal Government on measures taken to contain political violence and investigate such incidents to bring the culprits to book. Pointing to the growing number of incidents of election-related and political violence and casualties from 2016 to 2019, the MHA, in an advisory issued to the state government, said the "unabated violence over the years is evidently a matter of deep concern."

Quoting reports received by it, the MHA said that the number of incidents of political violence in West Bengal increased from 509 in 2016 to 1,035 in 2018. In 2019 as many as 773 incidents have already occurred.