Modi and Mamata joint survey ...Damage-control bid after initial lukewarm response

A shopkeeper carries a corrugated tin blown away from his shop when Cyclone Amphan hit the region in Calcutta, Thursday, May 21, 2020. (AP)

TT Bureau, 22.05.20, Calcutta: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Mamata Banerjee are scheduled to conduct a joint aerial survey of some of the Amphan-ravaged areas of Bengal on Friday, a state government official said on Thursday evening.

“They (Modi and Mamata) will make an aerial survey of the worst-hit areas. The chief minister was earlier slated to visit these areas on Saturday but the schedule has changed as the Prime Minister has agreed to come,” the official said.

The Prime Minister’s Office tweeted early in the evening that Modi would tour both Bengal and Odisha for aerial surveys and review meetings. This was seen as a damage-control bid after initial lukewarm response.

Nabanna sources said the PMO communication had arrived hours after Mamata had appealed to Modi to visit the state while chairing a televised review meeting this afternoon.

Reaching out to Delhi, Mamata had said: “I request the Prime Minister to visit the affected areas: he will understand what the cyclone has done.”

Mamata’s appeal, Trinamul sources said, was a significant departure from her normal belligerence towards the Centre, which had got more pronounced over the past few days amid the Union government’s constant criticism of Bengal’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis.

“The cyclone and the devastation it has caused may have changed her response; she cannot fight the Centre at this juncture,” a source said.

Mamata had already reached out publicly to political opponents on Wednesday night, urging them to forget politics and join hands with her to help the cyclone’s victims.

The natural calamity has posed a huge challenge for the state government, already left cash-strapped by its battle against the coronavirus. The lockdown has brought economic activities to a halt, drying up revenues. Help from the Centre is therefore crucial to post-Amphan relief and restoration.

Bengal government sources said the upcoming visit by Modi, who had stayed silent on the devastation till Thursday afternoon before tweeting a promise to help, had given the state hope of central assistance.

The Prime Minister tweeted this afternoon: “Have been seeing visuals from West Bengal on the devastation caused by Cyclone Amphan. In this challenging hour, the entire nation stands in solidarity with West Bengal. Praying for the well-being of the people of the state. Efforts are on to ensure normalcy.”

He added: “NDRF teams are working in the cyclone affected parts. Top officials are closely monitoring the situation and also working in close coordination with the West Bengal government. No stone will be left unturned in helping the affected.”

Home minister Amit Shah had been the first to take to social media to pledge support for Bengal on Thursday afternoon. He later called Mamata as well.

“He (Shah) assured (us) all cooperation,” Mamata said.

If Mamata’s mellower stand came in the state’s interest, a political analyst said, the accommodative stance by Modi and Shah reflected a damage-control exercise.

“The Centre’s initial response to the devastation had been pathetic. There was complete silence on Day One and then there were a few tweets, that too in the second half (of Thursday),” the analyst said. “As the Centre’s apathy became a topic of discussion on social media, they probably thought of making amends.”

A BJP source admitted that the Centre’s delayed response had hurt the party’s image in Bengal.

“We want to take Bengal from Trinamul in 2021. In this hour of crisis for the state, apparent apathy towards the affected people could have cost us dear. It’s good the Prime Minister is coming,” the source said.