Ms Mamata Banerjee's 10-month rule in West Bengal has sprung many a surprise on the people of the State. The basic message coming out of her actions is that she is failing to perform as Chief Minister. This is a tragic state of affairs, especially in a State which has been governed so indifferently during all those years of Left Front rule. It is quite impossible now for the State to pick up the reins of development under a new governing dispensation without a massive dose of external financial assistance.

NEWS CONTROL

The plight of the Trinamool Government is underscored by the fact that, as yet, it hasn't been able to make any headway in its quest for such assistance.

This is a situation which the Trinamool Congress has inherited. The sad part is that the sense of hopelessness has increased exponentially, thanks to government statements and measures, some of which are pathetic in their formulation and wholly indefensible in a democratic society.

The latest example of an official measure which should never have been taken in a democratic framework is the order issued by the department of mass education and library services instructing the 3,000-odd libraries in the State to subscribe to only 13 dailies, a list which was initially restricted to just eight vernacular newspapers. Admittedly, there may be a financial problem for the department concerned, the allocation for newspaper subscriptions being consequently reduced. But a newspaper-specific official order from Writers' Buildings ought to have been avoided because it commits the Government of the day to making a choice among the many periodicals on offer, which at once opens the door to a flood of charges focusing on official efforts to “control” dissemination of news and views.

FREE THINKING

What has made an already indefensible position quite hopeless is the Chief Minister's “justification” of official steps to control information and views available to the people on the basis of the attitude of various publications towards the Government. Last Thursday, commenting on the new library-newspaper list, Ms Banerjee told a select group of TV channels ( The Hindu , March 30): “We aren't telling the people what to read. (But) tomorrow we may have to tell them that as well”, and this because some newspapers were “spreading canards and making personal attacks on her”.

As with any citizen of the Indian Republic, Ms Banerjee is entitled to her views on what constitutes good reading for the public. But, in the Indian context, it cannot be the business of a Government to dictate to citizens what they should read and view. In her role as Chief Minister, Ms Banerjee would have done well not to have made the remark. The Government order restricting the newspaper list in State libraries to 13 said that the step was being taken to “promote free thinking”. Given her impeccable credentials as a campaigner for human rights, Ms Banerjee must be aware that free thinking can only flourish in a situation where there exists freedom of choice.

Ms Banerjee was swept into power by the people of West Bengal. They can sweep her out if they feel that she hasn't been able to perform satisfactorily. Being a true democrat, it is expected that she will let the people decide for themselves on how they want to be kept informed of the doings of her Government.

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