Mamata and 'freedom of speech': A case of pot calling kettle black
New Delhi:
Surely the case of pot calling the kettle black is nothing new in politics. But with regard to the 'politics' of Mamata Banerjee - it is a typical characteristic and a dominating theme.
There are half a dozen nationally known instances wherein West Bengal Chief Minister displayed intolerance. But she - like most of the protagonists in Sickularism backyards - would not miss a point to point out 'lapses and limitations" among others. 
When Mamata's Delhi show flopped in 2013
She had thrown those tantrums at the Marxists for long and during UPA days, she even embarrassed Montek Singh Ahluwalia once just because some Left cadres staged a demonstration against her. The latest instance is - even at the 'selection' of judges as a litigant she has her own likes and dislikes.
Mamata's trusted lieutenant, Derek O' Brien, on Friday tweeted raising objections at the fact that her petition on Nandigram election has been referred to a judge named, Justice Kaushik Chanda.
"Who is that person ‘circled’ in both pics ? Is he Justice Kaushik Chanda of Calcutta High Court ? Has he been assigned to hear the Nandigram election case ? Can the judiciary sink any lower ?," Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha floor leader tweeted.
So by this example alone, one understands the Trinamool and Mamata's definition of 'tolerance' and 'freedom' as a litigant is that she should get a judge of her liking - who will promptly endorse her viewpoint and declare the Nandigram poll outcome null and void.
Justice Chanda is shown sharing stage with BJP leader Dilip Ghosh.
Here too the 'tolerance' angle comes in. After all, it was at Nandigram, she lost the election herself to Suvendu Adhikari, her onetime aide turned a bitter political detractor. Those who have followed Mamata's politics and tracked her party as journalists would share several instances - wherein she had leveled journos as "CPI-M men". The issue being a few of those journalists have beards.
In fact, one woman TV journalist was more or less permanently leveled by her as "someone from CPI-M channel".
So, when it comes to journalists - her preference would be those who will attend her briefings, take dictations, enjoy hospitality and fish-fry and of course occasionally 'entertain' everyone by singing Rabindra sangeets.
She has staged walkouts from TV shows numerous times in the past.
None can ask a question that should would not like, and here was the 'democratic empress' !
On June 11 this year when Mukul Roy joined Trinamool Congress, she quickly said the press conference was over just as a journalist was asking her something about Suvendu Adhikari. She thought it would be wise and her expression of 'freedom' that the meeting with the Prime Minister on cyclone review could be given a slip.
Now moving on to some more serious issues and events wherein Mamata's 'freedom of speech' comes into focus. In April 2019, the Supreme Court slapped a fine of Rs 20 lakh on the West Bengal government for imposing a “virtual” ban on the public screening of the satirical Bengali film 'Bhobishyoter Bhoot' (meaing - Ghosts from Future) in the state.
Here the 'offence' was that the film plot revolves around a group of ghosts, including a politician, who assemble at a refugee camp.
“Such attempts (when a film is unceremoniously pulled out) are insidious and pose a grave danger to personal liberty and to free speech and expression," the apex court had ruled.
On January 23, 2021 she showed unprecedented and quick 'intolerance' to the slogan 'Jai Shri Ram'.
Once she threatened a group of youngsters when they raised the slogan 'Jai Shri Ram'.
Prior to that in December 2020, BJP chief J P Nadda waxed eloquently and had said - "For West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee….thy name is intolerance".
Nadda and other BJP leaders actually did not miss the point that Mamata's 'tolerance-free speech' debates and episodes are orchestrated well to suit her Muslim appeasement politics as well.
“When the entire country was watching the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ (of Ram temple in Ayodhya), Mamata Banerjee imposed a lockdown in West Bengal on August 5, 2020 to prevent people from being part of the occasion at the local level," Nadda pointed out.
In sharp contrast, he said, "...the lockdown was withdrawn for Bakr-Eid, on July 31". In 2012, four alleged Trinamool workers had assaulted a Jadavpur University professor, Ambikesh Mohapatra, for posting a meme/cartoon on the internet showing Mamata Banerjee.
An old timer in her party had hesitatingly said a few years back, "Mamata's tolerance and intolerance and freedom of speech etc are guided by a mix of philosophies of two other political parties, the CPI-M and the Congress."
Not surprisingly, the CPI-M stalwarts including the likes of Jyoti Basu had seldom shown liking for any critical questions - not to talk about criticism on the face. Basu is said to have asked scribes asking uncomfortable questions number of times, "Which paper ? Are you from Ananda Bazar ?"
Most of the media conferences Sonia Gandhi addressed during her stint as UPA chairperson or Congress president used to be outside New Delhi. And in the capital, the honour to put questions to her was given to 'handpicked journos from handpicked newspapers".
This journalist attended 'luncheon meetings' hosted by Sonia and there have been occasions she would make round of the tables and exchange pleasantries. But shortly before that the 'media team' would advise the scribes not to ask any question.
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| Faceless Indian voter |
So distinctly I remember, one day a senior journalist asked her, "Madam, when can we have a formal press conference to ask you questions".
'Loyalty' journalism truly flourished under different political parties in Delhi and also in different states. But things perhaps would not be so blunt as with few leaders such as Mamata Banerjee.
This scribe once asked Mamata whether she would meet PM Manmohan Singh - her response would be "You cannot decide my programme".
But it is an irony of Indian politics and political journalism that such leaders unhesitatingly speak out against Narendra Modi. And they virtually get away with anything.
But one who had covered Gujarat mayhem of 2002 in Ahmedabad for months can vouch that even during the peak of law and order issues, journalists - including from outside Gujarat - had a gala time in terms of 'democracy and full freedom' while reporting the riots.
In contrast, the media personnel covering Singur and Nandigram agitations during the Left regime also faced hurdles.
Similarly, the post-poll violence in West Bengal directed against 'BJP workers and supporters' has been hardly covered by the Kolkata media - all of them the regional media and also English and Hindi newspapers.
Even state Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar had to make a brief comment on the so-called absence of the 'objectivity' of the media.
“Nothing can be more shameful for us than people of West Bengal taking shelter in other states...Even the media did not do anything. It is an open secret who the perpetrators were,” he had said.
West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said it is 'high time' the fourth estate discharges its duties and shows how sorry and a gory state of affairs it has turned out to be.
The post-poll violence has been of unprecedented scale but the Mamata government has sought to make light of the entire saga and even politicised Governor's travel programmes.
Hundreds of BJP supporters and workers are still in Assam camps and a few have died in fierce violence.
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Mamata's trusted babu Alapan given a month to respond or face 'major penalty'
New Delhi: Irked at the manner former West Bengal Chief Secretary, Alapan Bandyopadhyay, showed disrespect to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and dereliction of duties, the Union Ministry of Personnel has served a notice to him stating that the central government proposes to hold 'major penalty' proceedings against him.
“Shri Alapan Bandyopadhyay is hereby informed that the central government proposes to hold major penalty proceedings against him under Rule 8 of the All India Services (discipline and appeals) rule, 1969 read with rule 6 of All India Services (death cum retirement benefits) rule 1958," an official memorandum said.
Bandyopadhyay had walked away from the venue along with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, from the 'review meeting' on cyclone Yaas - which was to be attended by the Prime Minister.
Besides chances of being sent behind bars, under this rule, employment and post-retirement benefits like pension could be withheld if found guilty. The fresh government communique states that Alapan's earlier response/answer was not satisfactory, and if he fails to explain his position 'within a month' from June 16; ‘major penalty proceedings’ against him will be initiated.
It is felt widely that the centre had no option but to initiate disciplinary actions as there was also violation of the Disaster Management Act.
Bandyopadhyay is a renowned Man Friday of Chief Minister Banerjee and after he opted for retirement, he was appointed as Special Advisor to the Chief Minister's office.
The gory episode happened on May 28 during the Prime Minister's visit to the state to review the damage caused by cyclone Yaas. Chief Minister Ms Banerjee also avoided the meeting and so did her Chief Secretary, a senior IAS officer of 1987 batch.
The Union Home Ministry had served show-cause notice to Bandyopadhyay under the National Disaster Management Act, a rare occasion for the use of this provision of the law.
The law entails a 'guilty' official can be even jailed for two years. Observers say this clause has been used by the Centre to send a clear message to the IAS and IPS fraternity in West Bengal and other states about who is their 'real' boss.
In a nine-point rejoinder, the central government sources strongly rebutted Mamata Banerjee's claims that she was 'waiting' for the Prime Minister on May 28 when Mr Modi had flown to West Bengal.
The Section 51 (b) of the Disaster Management Act says - anyone refusing to comply with any direction given by or
on behalf of the Central Government or the State Government or the National Executive Committee or the State
Executive Committee or the District Authority under this Act, shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine, or with both.
"And if such obstruction or refusal to comply with directions results in loss of lives or imminent danger thereof, shall on
conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years".
"PM (Narendra Modi) landed at Kalaikunda at 1.59 pm. Mamata Banerjee landed at Kalaikunda after the PM at 2.10 pm. It is clear that the PM was kept waiting for the Chief Minister as he landed much before her.
This was also confirmed by a TMC MP who tweeted that there was no big deal in the PM being kept waiting,
said government sources.
It is an established norm that the senior most civil servant in the state, the Chief Secretary, is assigned the task of ensuring smooth conduct of meetings with state government officers, ministers and chief ministers when the Prime Minister convenes such important deliberations.
Perhaps, Bandyopadhyay could have avoided the problem or a major faux pas had he deputed another senior officer for the meeting.
The Centre defended its moves against Alapan Bandyopadhyay, who was ordered to report to Delhi after the meeting controversy.
Bandyopadhyay chose to ignore his constitutional duties, as a result of which no presentation was given to the Prime Minister and no officer of the West Bengal government attended the PM's review meeting, sources said.
In fact, state Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar also has said earlier this month that Mamata decided to boycott PM's cyclone-review meet 'the previous night' itself after she came to know that Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari will attend the meet.
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Extortion menace back in public debate in Nagaland: Govt of India snubs militant groups
New Delhi: Of course, the Government of India could not let this go ! The snub was expected. And hence finally, the centre has categorically made it clear that "Taxation is a sovereign function which can be exercised only by the government of India or the state (elected Nagaland) government".
The militant group NSCN (IM), which has been in negotiations with the centre since 1997, in a statement on June 19 (2021) had made a tall claim and said: "Collection of taxes by a government from its citizen is a legitimate right and it is nothing illegal at all".
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| Somewhere in Nagaland |
It also had claimed - "Even the representatives of the Government of India who are engaged in political dialogue with NSCN leaders recognize this right".
Thus comes the clarification in the form of an official statement from Gurmeet Singh, OSD to Gol representative and interlocutor for 'Naga peace talks'.
The NSCN (IM) version has been countered as an “erroneous statement”.
“Such an erroneous statement is likely to cause confusion among the people. Taxation is a sovereign function which can be exercised only by the government of India or the state government,” the statement from interlocutor office said.
“The government of India does not recognise any such right by any other entity,” it clarified.
The official statement further said - “Forcible collection of money by any entity is extortion, which is a criminal offence punishable under the laws. In fact, all the Naga armed organisations engaged in the peace process have given a commitment against such collection".
In 2020, Nagaland Governor R N Ravi had flagged off the extortion menace and also wrote a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister Neiphu Rio sharing his annoyance over the “unrestrained depredations” by organised armed gangs.
In what was seen as his attack on NSCN(IM) headed by Thuingaleng Muivah, Ravi had said, "Incongruously a deeply entrenched network of vested interests has emerged during the period (peace period since 1997) which has misappropriated the dividends of Peace and did not allow them to reach the people.
There is mass scale mayhem and miscarriage of dreams and expectations of the people of Nagaland."
The 'extortion' issue has come to surface yet again just when the peace talks have been put on fast track.
On June 21, Monday, the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) also raised the issue of 'multiple taxation' and demanded that all Naga political groups (meaning miltant groups) should immediately refrain from such activities.
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| Managing a tough job: Naga CM Rio |
The controversy has been kicked off lately after K T Sukhalu, Advisor School Education, reportedly said that “the NSCN factions are seeking (diversion) of COVID funds”.
Sukhalu belongs to Chief Minister Rio's party NNDP and thus Rio faces a tough situation.
The seven militant groups under NNPG (led by N Kitovi Zhimomi) operating in Nagaland issued a statement demanding that Sukhalu should clarify and specify on who are getting or demanding diversion of Covid19 funds.
“Let Mr. K.T Sukhalu produce full detail of the alleged payment of covid fund to national workers ....," a statement from NNPG said.
The Working Group of NNPG has said that it is aware that the Covid19 funds are sanctioned by the Government of India to 'mitigate the sufferings and misery' of the common people while also providing medical care and assistance to the affected.
The NNPG is ready for signing a final peace pact with the government of India at the earliest.
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