Covid norms not for netas? Big political fight from battleground Bengal

Covid protocols meant only for the general public and not for politicians and election rallies? On Rajdeep Sardesai’s show from Kolkata's Victoria Memorial, BJP and Congress fight it out over the big question.

Are Covid protocols meant only for the general public and not for politicians? Are election rallies potential super-spreaders? Is the Election Commission doing enough? On his show News Today at 9, from Kolkata’s Victoria Memorial, India Today TV Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai raised these questions. Here’s what the guests had to say: SHATORUPA, BJP SPOKESPERSON: People ask us to remove our masks, they want to see our faces. When we meet people, they want to know who is going to represent them. Roadshows are the only way people understand. Election schedules are not decided by the ruling party or the prime minister. The Election Commission does it. They have to set guidelines. People sometimes do get carried away but the Congress blames the prime minister for everything.DR. KUNAL SARKAR, CARDIAC SURGEON: Many people don’t know they look better with masks on. It’s a complete farce in Bengal. Hospital beds are filling up much faster than Covid numbers suggest. Cases are going up like a whirlwind. Last time, it was migrant labourers, it’s the errant politicians this time. We’re in the middle of a pandemic. The Election Commission should have issued revised guidelines. No roadshows should have been allowed.