An authoritarian attitude!

Circular for keeping selected news papers in public libraries:

The tone and tenor of Mamata Banerjee's statement made with some selected TV channels are quite alarming as it unmistakably reeks of authoritarian mind-set.She lashed out at the larger section of media that vehemently keeps criticising her govt's recent move to select a few news papers those should be only kept at govt and govt aided libraries for public reading.She claimed she's not as yet asked people what to read and what not to, but if the press continues attacking her this way, she threatened, she'd even do that.Though initially her govt argued these particular news papers were chosen to 'promote free thinking' but now stance has changed.She claims the move has been made to promote financially weak news papers.However, later inclusion of Times of India in the list, a news paper from the most affluent publishing house, finds no explanation.Miss Banerjee refers to the circular of Library department as the 'small circular' of a 'small department' .But it's deliberately blown out of proportion to malign her govt and stall all developmental activities her govt has embarked upon, she alleged.There's a deep rooted conspiracy behind the present concerted attack on her by the politicians and a section of press as well, she fumed.

Press Censorship@Public Libraries

There's no room for intolerance in democracy.Unfortunately, the present govt in our state is too intolerant.It can't stand criticism at all.It's so much so that it's instructed the govt and govt aided libraries to keep eight selected dailies only for public reading.Incidentally, these chosen papers blindly support every move of the govt irrespective of its merit. On the other hand, the leading and the most widely circulated dailies those have incurred the displeasure of the govt and hence are denied entry to these libraries criticise govt activities in no uncertain terms whenever needed.But govt want press to be docile and sycophant.It'd eulogise the ruling party in every issue.

In fact, the press that blindly endorses whatever govt do does more harm than good and govt is misled as a result.Press should act as the watch dog and mince no words in criticising the wrong policies of the govt.On the other hand, press would not fall short of lauding and encouraging the govt either when it do good job.In fact,all authoritarian rulers consider even the constructive criticism of press as hostility and try to gag its voice.It's no wonder Mamata Banerjee with her full dictatorial temperament would do the same.However,such activities of the govt would certainly send wrong signal to people and adversely affect its support base.

Interestingly, people normally go to public libraries to read most of the papers those have been banned .If these leading papers are not available the readership of dailies in public libraries is likely to drastically fall.That apart,the major and national dailies are preserved in library archives for reference reading in future particularly by researchers.If the entry of these dailies are prohibited , how could they be preserved in archives?That apart,govt can't dictate as to what to read and what not to.It's as good as infringement of fundamental right.

In fine, the govt is requested. to rescind the order immediately in public interest as well as for its own good.

Fire in the city!

Fire breaks out almost everyday in the city.In most cases fury of fire is devastating and it engulfs wide area making innumerable people destitute.In some cases fire has taken heavy toll of lives too.In fact,fire has spared none, right from patients in modern corporate hospital to slum dwellers.

After each incidence of major fire break-out administration embark upon some knee-jerk measures to prevent fire.They visit high rises and large establishments to see if people properly maintain fire safety norms and have fire detecting and fighting devices.In most cases they're disappointed by utter indifference of the management there regarding fire safety.In some old buildings electrical wiring is in such a bad shape that cluster of wires dangle menacingly causing concern for fire breakout by short circuit at any moment. Fire department caution them against being so callous about safety and advise them to duly follow fire norms.But all suggestions fall flat on the deaf ear and things go on as usual till a major fire breaks out again some where.

Kolkata is a pretty old city and so it is built mostly in unplanned way.Particularly North Kolkata is so congested that space between two buildings and approach roads as well are so narrow that fire engines can't enter many areas to combat fire.In most places lack of water badly affect fire fighting.In fact, to minimize the incidences of fire many old building and new high rises as well need be demolished but it's no practical proposition.Occurrences of fire should be controlled with in the present frame work.For it what's most needed is public awareness and sustained efforts of the administration.Let us hope our collective determination would make it possible the devastating fire at Hatibagan is the last episode of major fire in the city.

An Insipid End Of Budget Drama!

Resignation of Dinesh Trivedi:
It started with a fanfare but ended in a fiasco.Yes, Rail budget drama started with a high pitch but ended in a a tame note. Dinesh Trivedi could not stick to his stand that unless Mamata Banerjee herself or Prime minister asked him to resign he would not step down.On the contrary he himself contacted Mamata Banerjee simply to be asked to quit railway ministry with immediate effect and he did it as a 'disciplined soldier'.He heaped praise on TMC supremo and did swear unwavering faith in party leadership.In fact, he could have resigned immediately after his party chair person made it known to the Prime minister that she didn't want him to continue as Rail minister any more.It's not clear why he took unnecessarily so much time to call it quits.May be,he expected Congress leadership would stand by him as Prime minister and Finance minister lauded his budget.Pranab Mukherjee in particular supported fare-hike by thumping table.But in reality none in the govt dared extend active support to him and rather projected it as a personal matter between Mamata Banerjee and Dinesh Trivedi. Mamata Banerjee had the last laugh.

Now it's up to Mamata Banerjee(defacto Railway minister) to dictate to what extent roll-back in fare hike would be made or there would be no fare-hike at all. What's, perhaps, certain is hapless Prime minister has no choice but to accept Mukul Ray as Railway minister notwithstanding his strong reservation against him.

Democracy at a stake!

Asking Dinesh Trivedi to resign:

As the things stand Dinesh Trivedi might have to relinquish railway portfolios at the instance of Mamata Banerjee who feels let down by her party colleague for hiking train fares .As railway minister Miss Banerjee put railways on the dock and bade farewell to passengers' safety and security.Mr.Trivedi has made an honest ,sincere and realistic approach to recover the financial health of railways instead of playing to the gallery like his predecessor.For doing this job first of all money is required and to enhance revenue he's hiked train fares.He's enhanced fares marginally at lower classes and at higher rates for AC and sleeper coaches keeping in mind that poor people too can afford the enhanced fare.What's more, people in general don't grudge to cough up the extra fare considering the moribund state of Indian railways.They rather hope rail could now ensure them safe,secure and hassle- free journey.Nothing could be more unfortunate if Dinesh Trivedi has to quit now simply because Mamata Banerjee does not like him while whole nation is behind him.Even Prime minister Monmohan Singh has complimented him for presenting a rational budget.Trivedi's departure might go down as a dark spot in the history Indian democracy.

Again, what's most humiliating and insulting for Monhmohan singh that Mamata Banerjee has recommended the name of Mukul Ray as railway minster to replace Dinesh Trivedi.It's Mukul Roy who outright defied Monmohan Singh when he asked Mr.Ray, the then minister of state for railways, to visit the site of train accident due to bomb blast at Assam.

To Editor,The Bengal Post

The queer logic presented by your correspondent Niranjan Hazra in his write-up (March16) Trivedi has violated the collective will of the people has surprised me a lot.What he's said boils down to the moot point that by hiking train fare in railway budget he's betrayed his party and the people who support it.The party is always dead against such hike particularly in the interest of poor people.As he's won election on TMC's ticket and not as an independent candidate he should have toed his party's line of not affecting people's interest by any means in his budgetary proposals.What Mr.Hazra has missed is Dinesh Trivedi is not a minister of a particular party, he's a cabinet minster of UPA -II govt.So his budget proposals should reflect the policy and principles of UPA-II govt and not of TMC or of any other party in particular.Although in a coalition govt different partners might have different policies but the govt is run on common minimum program.In fact, Dinesh Trivedi has taken a bold decision of hiking train fares after so many years to augment the financial health of railways.People too don't grudge to cough up the extra fare considering the morbid condition of Indian rail ways which now fail to ensure minimum safety to the passengers.Thanks to Mr.Trivedi he has not followed the populist policy far divorced from ground realities adopted by his predecessor.Trivedi has, in fact, respected the collective will of the people who want railways to assure them safe, secure and hassle free journey.

Appeasing farmers

Mamata Banerjee has called upon the cooperative banks not to confiscate the property of a farmer and put it on auction if he fails to repay his bank loan.She's also declared that she'd amend such legal provision enjoyed by banks.She's also added she'd file FIR against the bank which has issued notice to attach mortgaged property of defaulter farmers.As usual she's lambasted the Left Front govt for passing such anti farmer draconian law, although such a legal provision was in vogue much before the Left came to power.Perhaps, a series of suicides recently committed by debt trapped farmers in the state has prompted CM to make such a populist statement as a damage control measure.That apart,Panchayet election is not far off and now it's time to look after the rural vote bank.

A dispassionate review of CM's statement suggests it's not only populist but irrational also.It'll encourage the farmers not to repay loan even if they 're able to do so.It's as good as asking the banks to waive the debts of the farmers irrespective of their financial position.If the banks have to oblige CM, how would they run their institutions?A time would come when the cooperative banks would be compelled to roll down their shutters or refuse to sanction loans to the farmers for their own survival.As a result the farmers will have to approach the money lenders to take loan at an exorbitantly high rate of interest.So CM should think twice before making such a populist statement to appease the farmers with an eye to their vote bank.In fact,in doing so she'll do more harm than good to the farmers whose interest she's apparently going to vindicate.