What happens when shocking behaviour is almost predictable? The shock value diminishes? Not in the case of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who brought drama and excitement to a television news channel last week by walking out in the middle of a shoot after describing members of the invited studio audience as Maoist and CPI (M) cadres. Worse, and more shockingly, she ordered police investigations against the students among the audience who had raised uncomfortable questions during the event. Yet, everything she did at the shoot fits in with her record of past behaviour, whether as an opposition leader or as the head of the government. The Trinamool Congress leader is known for moving quickly from one display of temper to another, from one act of defiance to another. But all the qualities she showed as an opposition street-fighter with only ordinary peasants and workers for supporters have taken on a sinister form now that the might of the law-enforcing machinery stands behind her. It is one thing to rail against the government when you are in the opposition, and quite another to lash out at ordinary citizens when you are in power. But sadly, Ms Banerjee, who was elected to office riding a popular mandate for reform and change, is unable or unwilling to see this difference and make the transition from resistance to governance.
Security officials at the Chief Minister's command are treated the same way as party workers waiting on her. Cases are ordered filed and investigations undertaken at her whims and fancies. The fracas at the CNN-IBN programme in Kolkata revealed an intolerant streak that was also evident when a professor was arrested for having sent e-mails lampooning her. For Ms Banerjee, every criticism of her is engineered by her principal political opponent, the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Her way of discrediting critics, then, is to brand them as CPI (M) or Maoist supporters, forgetting conveniently that the two left groups are themselves at loggerheads. And once branded thus, in Ms Banerjee's assessment, the critics can have no cause for complaint about oppressive police action. The Chief Minister should realise that the media and ordinary citizens would necessarily subject a government to greater scrutiny than they would an opposition party. As the head of the government, Ms Banerjee should know that she is more accountable to the public than she has ever been before. If she does not change her ways, she will only have sycophants for company; everyone else will have been driven to the opposition camp.
Keywords: Mamata walkout, Mamata CNN IBN interview, CNN-IBN programme, police inquiry, Mamata cartoon row
Ms Mamata Banerjee has a penchant for throwing tantrums. What is amazing is that she has completely been oblivious of the fact that in democracy, peaceful dissent is acceptable. Since the common people of West Bengal voted in her favour, she should respect their right to ask her some uneasy questions. That's how democracy works. She must learn quickly in her own interest.
I am surprised to the fullest after knowing the event in WB.just after the result of the election which gives TC a clear mandate to form govt,the state got bifurcation though virtually.What is this nonsense to such a division in a state.It is pity to have such an attitude of the elected representative.
Itis unwise to expect Mamata who has the qualities of a misguided reactionary inborn in her,to change overnight.Of course,the bullying tantrums exhibited by her have become intolerable after she has become the Chief Minister. Added to this,the autocratic arrogance with which she tries to bulldoze her opponents and sometimes even her well wishers has already driven the people of Bengal to yearn for an early release from the clutches of the most unpredictable Mamata who has also been found to be consistently inconsistent in her decisions. The CNN-IBN episode has not only exposed the quixotic Mamata to the whole world but has also made the disappointed Bangalis stand vindicated of their reasonable longing!
One of our main destiny is that the lack of luminous people to lead us in all walk of our life
One of our important destiny is that the absence of luminous people to lead us all realms of our life even if it is man made
It may be true that political heads are corrupt. I have also noticed that the interviewers question for commercial interests. The audience vent thier displeasure by appreciating when the politicians are placed with embarassing questions. I have seen Devils advocate and noticed the interviwer's sole intention is to place the interviewee in such a situation. There will repeated questions without letting them answer fully.
We want people to express and not get defending. I find Prannoy Roy being reasonable, but most of the others are irritants.
Mamata bannerjee may have higher temper, but we should want the interviewers to be ethical too.
Since 1970, the people of West Bengal have suffered terribly from the people governing them. I thought things would improve when the Left Front was replaced by Mamta but I suppose that I was wrong.
Mamta banerjee should understand that she has been given a constitutional status for which there is a price to be paid that is to be accountable to people. She has to understand now she is not merely a social activist. In our constitutional structure even a government employee is answerable to people under the RTI act. Then conducting an enquiry over the student shows that she wants to suppressing the voice against her. If people are supporting her on this issue then why they feel unjust when congress team anna's voice. Those supporting mamta over this issue i would like to tell them the ways of maintaining law and order and peace differentiate a leader and a dictator. People supporting her over the issue are concerned just about the results but not the ways of acheiving results.
Swami! you start here as well
West Bengal people have removed the CPI from power but have raised another communist (MB)
I remember a scene from Cho's famous drama "Mohammed Bin Tughlak".
Tughlak is questioned by a politician about the quixotic and
unilateral acts. He is told "this is a democracy, not a dictatorship".
Guess what Tughlak says? If there is one dictator, it's a dictatorship
- if there are many, that's a democracy!"
This is from a play written and performed way back in the 60's. Cho is
a genius who foresaw the way Indian democracy would work, decades
later. Mamta is a perfect example of the way our elected rulers
behave. throwing all accountability to the winds. Like the proverb
goes, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. How
true!
Interesting variety we have in our ministers chief or otherwise. Since they are not honorable we have to say that. From silent spectator Dr. Manmohan, statuephile Mayavati , poster Priya Jaya, Family welfare Karuna, 300 telephone line Maran,bailed out Raja,resigned Yediurappa. What if Mamata is what she is. We are the blessed of world citizens.
Its crazy to think that anyone asking a question which does not please or do not have an answer belongs to CPI(M) or maoists. It is our right to question our representative, and it is their duty to answer the questions. If one thinks that after reaching to the power, he/she can do anything one wishes and be so arrogant, let us please remind them that it is we, who made them sit there and if we wish, we could bring them down. In democracy the people are the king makers. In Bengal, I heard that there is no governance there, but there is dictatorship going on. To retain the power, which was rewarded almost unanimously, please change the situation......
CM, Ms Mamata Benerjee is in a self obsessive and extremely intolerant zone where she started working as a monarch or a dictator. These levels of intolerance is rare for a civilian govt head. I am lucky that I m not in Bengal since she may also initiate a investigation now against me for writing this comment.
Higher levels of tolerance, sensitivity towards citizens enables inclusive administration and gains people's trust.
Hope Mamata lives up to people's mandate.
Completely agreed. The question is, what can be done about it? And who can do it in the most effective way? The term of government in democracy is a very dicey concept. The shorter you keep it, there is instability, the longer you keep it, there is reluctance and ignorance to act, even arrogance. Can someone suggest any better? I am genuinely looking for an answer here...
Ms.Banerjee is proving day by day that she is not matured enough to handle the pressure of a CM. Ok, it is understood that the students were from CPI(M); so what? When the Communist party Govt was there in Bengal, she & her partymen also raised questions. What's the big deal. She should take some long term measures to tackle the menace of Maoism. In a democratic country, she cant allege someone of being maoists supporter simply for asking questions or can't stop people to read, write & watch some particular news papers/TV channels. She has to handle it in a more scientific & logical way. She can't be a DICTATOR to make people understand her stand (whether right or wrong). Its not a good sign for the people of WB.
When you embrace "intolerence" and "defiance" as the motto of your governance, whom would the ordinary people will look up to. As it's rightly said, that being in principal opposition is one thing and being government is yet another. As a principal opposition leader you take pride on street-fighting every governemt move and should have understood the basics that every government would be thoroughly scrutinezed by media and people. Should have guts to face up to it. Whatever good work you might do, you have present it in nice wrapper, for acceptance. Society, won't try to work you out, rather you should go for self apprisal. As one can notice, nothing of that kind happening now, any little good work done is being masked by Didi's conroversial behaviour. In the changing society andy good product can only be sold with good packaging. Brush off the ego! Sooner it dawns better for the state and people.
There was a time when political leaders were role models because of
their conviction, etiquette,and their behaviour in the face of
adversity. Welfare of the nation was their topmost priority. Its sad
that not a single one of the political leaders in our country is a
leader in its true sense. Its high time for young generation to come
forward and take the front stage in politics. Only then we can see a
beacon of hope in this current state of affairs.
Didi has done it in her own signature style. How does it matter even if it hurts many and baffles all? The consistency with which Ms. Banarjee has been displaying defiance and intolerance speaks volume of her conviction. It's good if somebody is so deep rooted conviction. I respect her for that. But now her acts of conviction are increasingly becoming her whip on our democratic rights. Whosoever asks her a question that doesn't pleases her need not be either CPI(M) cadre Maoist cadre. If its so entire country is either CPI(M) cadre or Maoist except TMC's rank & file. Her walking away from show exhibited an arrogance and a sense that she can call anybody's bluff. Its duty of her well wishers to remind her, neither the TIME magazine nor Ms. Clinton would vote her back to power but the power remains in the hands of ones she labels as Maoist. But would her own party members not be afraid of getting the CPI or Maoist tag if they dare do so. Didi realize you are in power not in opposition.
If the invited audience were really cadres from CPM and Maoists, the West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee has indeed lost the opportunity to address their questions and concerns in a democratic way, with millions watching the live telecast. She could have put forth her views on issues raised in a convincing manner for a 'change'; in their political wisdom and tried to bring them to her camp. Normally, committed workers from the opposition parties are known to attend such meetings only to create 'disturbance and chaos. When that was not the case in the CNN-IBN Studio, Didi's behavior has only exposed her limitations as a national level political leader with any semblance of democratic values.
did u never see that the true mind of work of this CM of BENGAL? this incidents on the one side present the hot-tempered woman who does not have the capacity to welcome criticisms! BUT ON THE REAL SIDE OF THE MATTER DO U EVEN THINK THAT SHE DOES ALL THESE UNPOPULAR STEPS DUE TO THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF THE STATE CUM NATION!!! does MAOISTS are the healthy parts of our society? if MAMATA try to eliminate the extrimisms(to some extent she is successfull in jangalmahal)what is the wrong to support her? AND U THE INTELLECTUAL GROUP OF THOSE UNIVERSITIES SUPPORTING THOSE TERMINATORS OF LAW AND ORDER SITUATION ONLY PERSUATED THOSE ''EVENNESS'' PHILOSOPHY WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO IN THE WORLD OF SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST!!!the communism in the democratic ways ended in RUSSIA and those violent left who is rather disillusioned to welcome peaceful democracy and its failure--- is the subjectmatter of discussion and support of those students ! is it any harm to rush away from this discussion???????
Is Mamata's behaviour and attitudes any different from those of the top
brass of the CPI(M)?
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