West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is an intolerant ruler who does not take any criticism and does not seek any advice. The chairman of the Press Council of India, Markandey Katju on Sunday made these comments about Ms Banerjee in Kolkata Press Club. He had once lauded the chief minister of West Bengal. But on Sunday he belligerently slammed her.
“This is a great defect in your chief minister that she is very intolerant. She does not listen to others. You cannot run a government like this,” he pointed out.
In May after meeting her in Kolkata, Justice Katju had showered lavish praises on her. “Even after becoming the chief minister, she continues to live in her small home and wears simple clothes. Please compare her with other politicians who are involved in so many scams. Integrity is becoming rare in public life in the country, but Mamata’s integrity is of the highest order,” he had said.
On Sunday, he recalled that he had once praised her honesty, simplicity and integrity and her love for the aam aadmi. He, however, in the same breath also pointed out that Ms Banerjee should realise that she was living in a democracy and must work in a democratic manner. “Chanakya has said in Arthashastra that a good ruler must appoint good advisers and listen to them. Sardar Patel, the first home minister of India, had told his bureaucrats who were senior IAS officers to feel free to express their opinion even if they strongly differed with him,” he elaborated.
Justice Katju said that Ms Banerjee only wanted yes men who kept saluting her. “She should instead have some no-men around her,” he added.