Kolkata bridge collapse: Left accuses TMC of stopping blood-donation camp for injured

Kolkata, April 1: Members of a number of Left students' organisations on Thursday alleged that a number of leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), including the doctor-MLA Nirmal Maji, stopped them from holding a blood donation camp to serve those who have been injured in the disastrous flyover collapse at Posta area.

Speaking to Oneindia, a member of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) said they conducted the camp at the Central Blood Bank in Maniktala area around 5 pm. But Maji and local TMC councillor, MLA and others came after some time and asked them to shut the camp, saying there was enough blood to supply.

"We could conduct the camp for only two and half hours. In this time, 186 people had given blood while many others couldn't give. People came from distant districts to give blood," the SFI member said.

Police also came and disrupted the camp, said reports.

A fresh initiative was taken again on Friday to conduct the blood donation camp. It was supposed to begin around 1 pm.

Don't play politics over blood, says Mamata

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later said there was no need to do politics over donating blood. "We have enough blood stored. if we need blood, there are people. If I say, a lakh will donate blood," she said.However, as per local reports, people were seen rushing from pillar to post to collect blood for their injured kin.

"CPM brought people from streets to donate blood"

Maji later refuted the allegations and accused the CPI(M) of bringing people from the streets to donate blood. Another TMC minister said there was not enough storage facility for the donated blood.

A number of Left leaders expressed anger over the incident. The common people also criticised the TMC in Facebook posts.

Oneindia News