There is a faintly ominous ring to the West Bengal CM’s move to exclude several English and Bengali newspapers from state-funded public libraries (Words in Coarse Print, Apr 16). Didi must realise that if the people of the state were smart enough to elect her, they also have the intellectual wherewithal to choose their newspapers without her help. It’s the librarian who must decide which newspapers to procure. Mamata has conveniently forgotten that her dramatic rise to power in Bengal was massively helped by the coverage in the free press in the state.

K.S. Jayatheertha, Bangalore

Mamata’s comments on the government circular on selected newspapers are full of ambiguity. The circular was issued by the library services and mass education department of the state government. She has said that she took the step to support the small newspapers in the districts. But, ironically, the journals named in the circular are from the big houses. On the other hand, the state department of information and cultural affairs has passed an order to all district information officers to stop all government ads in small newspapers in all 19 districts. By passing this order, Mamata actually hits at district newspapers, which mainly depend on government ads. The fact is that we have a CM who can’t tolerate any criticism.

S. Biswas, Kalyani

Mamata Banerjee’s ‘progressive’ government is now stifling the fundamental right to read and express one’s opinion. Leaders like her forget history, and attempt in vain to muzzle discordant voices. It will only serve to raise the voices of protest. Mamata’s nomination of four obedient newspaper owner-editors as Rajya Sabha candidates show her way of thinking well.

Uttam K. Bhowmik, Tamluk

This is what happens, when entire state gets obsessed with a particular ideology.

Soviet Russia or Mao's China flirted for a couple of decades with extremist marxism and wisely dumped it and are much better off places to live.

But Waste Bengal is continuing to refuse to beleive in free enterprise and is so much obsessed with Marxism. 

Everyone knows that TMC and mamata were voted in 2009 and 2011 only because they outdid the ruling Left interms of marxism, populism and anti development politics. 

Now why is anyone surprised with all this? An ideology like Marxism is essentially intolerant of dissent and contrary thought. And when entire state subscribes to the ideology, this is the end result.

The tragic thing is that while in 19th century Bengal led rest of India in terms of progressive reforms in Hindu religion, 21st century west bengal is actually poisoning rest of india through its populist politics and the obsessive encouragement of naxalist and extremist leftist ideology that finds support in Kolkatta's Leftist elite.

Case in point is Indian Railway Budget - Indian Railways is well on course to become another failed enterprise and sick entity, thanks entirely to the people of West bengal and their chosen party - TMC.

Now question is - how longer a nation of billion plus people has to suffer due to the ideological sickness of the elite and middle class idiots of one particular state ?

 Just to remind the media nazis (including the venerable writers of outlook) who accuse Modi of everything under the sun - Modi, despite all his drawbacks or whatever, did not do such a thing.

In an ideal scenario Writer's Building has no business to name & list publications which should be subscribed by state or state-aided libraries. This is one of the discretion best left to the Librarians. An overenthuastic  junnor Minster  went overboard to lick Didi's feet.

Before Mamata could undo the damage the dominant & one of the most powerful  media house India - the Fox News of Bengal-  which supported Budhadev Bhattacharjee  for his Nanadigram massacre & usurped the right to  set agenada in Bengal politics & got in to it, overblown the issue disproportionate to its impact . Mamata with her megalomaniac streak would not be told what she should do , this media house insist she must follow the agenda set by them. She in her turn went for the overkill instead of ignoring such small snipes. And an non-issue became an issue.

There is no winner in the matter. In this particular fracas no freeom of speech or press issue is germane. Neither the media house nor Mamata are winner. One regrets these are the kind of things which will increasingly sap the energy of new government at the cost of issues of development.

For balanced view on this particular issue one may like to go to kafila.org/2012/04/08/mamatas-order-that-stocked-the-media-war-independent-observer/

 Mamata Banerjee's comments on the govt. circular on selected newspapers are full of ambiguity. The circular was given by the Dept. of Library Services & Mass Education, Govt. of West Bengal. She is telling time and again that she did it for rendering support to the small newspapers in the districts. But ironically, the journals ,mentioned in the circulars are from the big houses. On the other hand Dept. of Information & Cultural Affairs, Govt. of W.B. has passed an order to all the District Information Officers , directed them to stop all advertisements in small newspapers in all 19 districts in W.B. until further order. By passing this order Mamata actually, hits below the belt of the district newspapers which depends mainly on govt. advertisements.

Actually, we have got a C.M. who cannot tolerate any criticism against her. So, she starts press gagging and it is directly an act of snatching people's right to read whatever they like. How govt. comes in betwwen? And the writers' idea is correct that the selected journals have already started cornering all govt. advertisements. Adhir Chuodhury, M.P.(Bahrampur) has rightly said that the state govt. is practising academic anarchy. 

Yes, "Cpricious"  she certainly is . Alas ! this latest stunt is revengeful and Tuglakian . When power enters into you head and overpowers your thinking, you lose touch with reason, logic and a sense of proportion. 

Madam , there are more serious and urgent things to do for your Poschima Bangla, than showing your mean-mindedness toward the press. Wake up Lady, let this not be the beginning of your political downfall.

Is our Outlook in or out ?

 This has never been done by any Chief Minister in the history of independent India. This is as draconian as suppression of dissent during emergency. This is a fatwa against criticism and a sinister move to silence her critics. Smt Banerjee, shame on you!

Mamta has confirmed the fact that she will violate the mandate of trust given by the Bengal people.New borns and infants continue to die and nothing has improved at the ground level and in fact things are slipping further.The massive mandate has Mamta losing sense of direction as she continues to indulge in gimmicks which dont work as a CM.

If she continues this way she will ensure that in 2014 TMC gets a drubbing.

Mamta has confirmed the fact that she will violate the mandate of trust given by the Bengal people.New borns and infants continue to die and nothing has improved at the ground level and in fact things are slipping further.The massive mandate has Mamta losing sense of direction as she continues to indulge in gimmicks which dont work as a CM.

If she continues this way she will ensure that in 2014 TMC gets a drubbing.

 This has never been done by any Chief Minister in the history of independent India. This is as draconian as suppression of dissent during emergency. This is a fatwa against criticism and a sinister move to silence her critics. Smt Banerjee, shame on you!

Is our Outlook in or out ?

Yes, "Cpricious"  she certainly is . Alas ! this latest stunt is revengeful and Tuglakian . When power enters into you head and overpowers your thinking, you lose touch with reason, logic and a sense of proportion. 

Madam , there are more serious and urgent things to do for your Poschima Bangla, than showing your mean-mindedness toward the press. Wake up Lady, let this not be the beginning of your political downfall.

 Mamata Banerjee's comments on the govt. circular on selected newspapers are full of ambiguity. The circular was given by the Dept. of Library Services & Mass Education, Govt. of West Bengal. She is telling time and again that she did it for rendering support to the small newspapers in the districts. But ironically, the journals ,mentioned in the circulars are from the big houses. On the other hand Dept. of Information & Cultural Affairs, Govt. of W.B. has passed an order to all the District Information Officers , directed them to stop all advertisements in small newspapers in all 19 districts in W.B. until further order. By passing this order Mamata actually, hits below the belt of the district newspapers which depends mainly on govt. advertisements.

Actually, we have got a C.M. who cannot tolerate any criticism against her. So, she starts press gagging and it is directly an act of snatching people's right to read whatever they like. How govt. comes in betwwen? And the writers' idea is correct that the selected journals have already started cornering all govt. advertisements. Adhir Chuodhury, M.P.(Bahrampur) has rightly said that the state govt. is practising academic anarchy. 

In an ideal scenario Writer's Building has no business to name & list publications which should be subscribed by state or state-aided libraries. This is one of the discretion best left to the Librarians. An overenthuastic  junnor Minster  went overboard to lick Didi's feet.

Before Mamata could undo the damage the dominant & one of the most powerful  media house India - the Fox News of Bengal-  which supported Budhadev Bhattacharjee  for his Nanadigram massacre & usurped the right to  set agenada in Bengal politics & got in to it, overblown the issue disproportionate to its impact . Mamata with her megalomaniac streak would not be told what she should do , this media house insist she must follow the agenda set by them. She in her turn went for the overkill instead of ignoring such small snipes. And an non-issue became an issue.

There is no winner in the matter. In this particular fracas no freeom of speech or press issue is germane. Neither the media house nor Mamata are winner. One regrets these are the kind of things which will increasingly sap the energy of new government at the cost of issues of development.

For balanced view on this particular issue one may like to go to kafila.org/2012/04/08/mamatas-order-that-stocked-the-media-war-independent-observer/

 Just to remind the media nazis (including the venerable writers of outlook) who accuse Modi of everything under the sun - Modi, despite all his drawbacks or whatever, did not do such a thing.

This is what happens, when entire state gets obsessed with a particular ideology.

Soviet Russia or Mao's China flirted for a couple of decades with extremist marxism and wisely dumped it and are much better off places to live.

But Waste Bengal is continuing to refuse to beleive in free enterprise and is so much obsessed with Marxism. 

Everyone knows that TMC and mamata were voted in 2009 and 2011 only because they outdid the ruling Left interms of marxism, populism and anti development politics. 

Now why is anyone surprised with all this? An ideology like Marxism is essentially intolerant of dissent and contrary thought. And when entire state subscribes to the ideology, this is the end result.

The tragic thing is that while in 19th century Bengal led rest of India in terms of progressive reforms in Hindu religion, 21st century west bengal is actually poisoning rest of india through its populist politics and the obsessive encouragement of naxalist and extremist leftist ideology that finds support in Kolkatta's Leftist elite.

Case in point is Indian Railway Budget - Indian Railways is well on course to become another failed enterprise and sick entity, thanks entirely to the people of West bengal and their chosen party - TMC.

Now question is - how longer a nation of billion plus people has to suffer due to the ideological sickness of the elite and middle class idiots of one particular state ?