An Open Letter to Mamata Banerjee from the student she branded a 'Maoist'

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mk76

Herald
Dear 'Simple Man',
On being asked a simple question, you acquired a complicated avatar. We all went to the CNN-IBN question-answer session on Friday, May 18, at the Town Hall expecting to hear some heated exchanges, but it got too hot to handle.

You, the most important person in West Bengal, labelled me and the rest of the audience 'Maoist and CPM cadres'. What exactly did we do to deserve this honour? We asked you questions. I asked you whether affiliates of your party, specifically minister Madan Mitra and MP Arabul Islam, who wield power, should act, or should have acted, more responsibly.

Like many others, I was also greatly disturbed when Madan Mitra pronounced his own judgement on a rape victim before the police were done investigating. This woman, whose character was assassinated, is an Anglo-Indian, a member of the minority community. Thus, if we were to even forget about sensitivity, the question of political correctness still hangs over his conduct.

A few months ago, this very same man had misbehaved with policemen who had stopped his car on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass as part of its routine. As for the Arabul Islam case, it is still making headlines.

I asked you something that had been on the minds of most people around me, people who voted for 'paribartan' (change). Is this what we expect of our leaders? The ones who set examples and whom people follow. This is all that I wanted to know. What I got to know, instead, is that in West Bengal, asking a question can be the equivalent of being a Maoist.

'Simple man', you claimed with pride on stage that you're not a feminist.
That proclamation did not surprise us, especially after the Katwa and Park Street cases. You also spoke of democracy. The answers you gave to the questions you took before mine were sprinkled with words like ‘people’, 'democracy', and 'Bengal'.
But one of the most important features of a true democracy, which I have learnt as a student of political science, is freedom of expression. This freedom is the one that allows an individual to express oneself, to not have to mince words out of fear of authority. It involves enjoying a chuckle or two at cartoon about important public figures.

Sadly, there seems to be a gradual failure in this aspect of the democratic machinery in the state. And just like I won’t become a Maoist simply because you called me one, the state too won’t epitomize democracy unless it is truly so in all spheres. All said and done, what you did was in haste and it made me the centre of attention. And as you stomped off in fury, you automatically assumed the role of the spoilsport.

It would have been so much more ‘simple’ had you just answered my question, or even said “No comments” and moved on. The question became so important because you chose to make it important.

You have spoken of 'brain drain' so many times. I hold offers from the University College, London and the School of Oriental and African Studies to study development and administration. I too will probably leave, and now you know the reason why. Had you stayed on, it would have been fun. And you would have honestly been 'a Chief Minister with a difference'. The role of your office as Chief Minister is to aggregate interest – you should at the least have heard us all out.

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power". So said Abraham Lincoln.

Love
A Simple Woman – Taniya Bhardwaj
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Reference : An Open Letter to Mamata Banerjee from the student she branded a 'Maoist' - Politics - Politics News - ibnlive

Not sure why she got upset. She could have easily chosen not to answer...
 
MB was always a hyper person in my opinion. Now she has proven herself to be a paranoid as well.
It was ridiculous how she went on with her rant of Here a Maoist, there a Maoist.. Everywhere a maoist. Ridiculous for a CM tbh.
 
You know what half the people I meet in west Bengal tell me? state needs totalitarian rule. Huh.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
 
Many people, including myself, honestly expected Mamta to make a difference to a state that has been under a single party's regime for several decades. Unfortunately, there has been nothing else other than disappointment. The way she handled the cartoon row, the railway budget row (& the resignation that followed) and now the interview, clearly shows that she wants to run her state like a dictator. Why accept an invitation to the interview if you are not ready to answer the questions thrown at you..? Pathetic.
 
^^
What about the hospital which caught fire, FDI, rape "victimization", railway tariff change, removal of publications, presidential election support, state tax pardon.
 
Clearly, Mamata has been so desperate/determined all these years to ascend to power in West Bengal that now she has achieved it, she doesn't know how to handle it. This amount of responsibility is clearly too over-whelming for her. Those in power need to have a strong gut for criticism as it comes their way more often than not. Mamata was always way too impulsive in her public behavior.

I wish that girl had taken exception to that accusation and mouthed Mamata back in return over her fickle public outbursts. But in all fairness, she too wouldn't have expected this kind of a reaction from her CM.
 
The problem is not just Mamata, the problem is with West Bengal, or majority of it.

Educated colleagues defend her stance and justify her selection with examples. The people of this state will defend everything $hitty about it and sugarcoat it with "Preserving heritage".

And I hate the 12 AM curfew.
 
asingh said:
^^
What about the hospital which caught fire, FDI, rape "victimization", railway tariff change, removal of publications, presidential election support, state tax pardon.
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Oh yeah... all that and more. I was just putting down whatever came to my mind at that instant. :)
 
quixand said:
The problem is not just Mamata, the problem is with West Bengal, or majority of it.

Educated colleagues defend her stance and justify her selection with examples. The people of this state will defend everything $hitty about it and sugarcoat it with "Preserving heritage".
Click to expand...
Derek O'Brien defending her was a real downer and so was the cartoon row.

quixand said:
And I hate the 12 AM curfew.
Click to expand...
WTF!!! Does it mean no one is allowed to roam after 12 am?
 
The video is really funny. Before all the brouhaha she even threatens the hostess of walking out. WTH!
She just gets hyper without any reason.
Politicians who attend a forum are always asked difficult questions. If you cant handle it, just refuse to attend.
 
Well there were no restrictions 5 years back, you could roam around freely. Nightlife here is much better than let's say Bangalore (as far as time is concerned), where you will be ushered out by midnight in most places.

Police has been creating nuisance in my area, checking every vehicle, Call center cabs etc.
Some popular places have shutdown because of this new rule, decrease in footfall and what not.
 
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