Dinesh Trivedi questions Katju's remarks about Mamata

Dinesh Trivedi questions Katju's remarks about Mamata

Trinamool MP Dinesh Trivedi todayquestioned PCI Chairperson Justice Markandey Katju's criticalremarks on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee that she seemed tohave become "increasingly intolerant and whimsical" and saidthat airing of personal opinions by authorities againstconstitutional entities could lead to a "free-for-all."

"The Chairman of the Press Council of India has givenunsolicited advise to the Hon'ble Chief Minister of WestBengal which was made public, perhaps for reasons ofpublicity, otherwise such unsolicited advise could have beenkept strictly personal and confidential," Trivedi said in astatement here.

"Therefore, one would have every reason to suspect as tothe motive of such personal comments. Chief Ministers aredemocratically elected and states are governed by the rule oflaw," he said.

On a visit to Kolkata, Katju had said that Banerjeeseemed to have become "increasingly intolerant and whimsical"and asked her to mend her ways. Banerjee had retorted sayingthat she would not function as per anyone's diktats.

Trivedi said Katju had earlier made comments about BiharChief Minister Nitish Kumar also and added that in this mannerhe could make comments against others in sensitive positions.

"Tomorrow, it could be against the Hon'ble Prime Ministeror the Hon'ble judges of the courts or for that matter theChief of the Armed forces! If this practice is encouraged oraccepted, then it is going to be free for all," Trivedi said.

He said democracy has done well in India as variouspillars of democracy and constitutional bodies have shownrespect and have not unduly interfered with each other.

"The office of the Chairman of Press Council of India ishighly respectable and a statutory position. Like any otherhead of such organization, it is expected that the statementsof the Chairman of Press Council of India is responsible,dignified and non interfering with other constitutional bodyor the Head of such body," Trivedi said.

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