New Delhi:
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said, "If unknowingly, I make a mistake - that can happen to anyone - for that I will ask forgiveness from the people. If I make a mistake, I will not hesitate to say so. Who can say everything I do is right? I am a human being."
Her comments, made in the Assembly yesterday, come amid a whorl of criticism over her alleged intolerance of dissent. A farmer was arrested after he questioned her policies at a rally last week. This week, the state's human rights commission ruled that the government must pay Rs 50,000 each to a professor and his friend who were arrested in April for an online post of a cartoon featuring the chief minister.
The chief minister's comments about the retired Supreme Court judge who heads that commission will puncture attempts to prove that she can take negative feedback. Ms Banerjee did not name Justice Ashok Ganguly yesterday but said, "We got a very good person... He is not associated with my party or any party... but what happened ? Oh my god! He has no idea! He is writing (orders) as if he is the Supreme Court Chief Justice! Or the President of India. He doesn't know what is his jurisdiction, his authority."
Ms Banerjee shared an unflattering assessment of the judiciary in general. "At times, favourable verdicts are given in return for money. There are instances when judgments have been purchased. There is corruption among a section of the judiciary. I know there can be a case against me for saying this. But this must be said and I am ready to go to jail for saying so," she said yesterday.
Her ally, the Congress, showed restraint in its evaluation of her remarks, though some of the country's best-known legal experts say the comments were inappropriate for a chief minister. "In what context that statement was made, I don't know but I do believe that the intention would be that the independence of the judiciary should be protected," said Law Minister Salman Khurshid.
The legal community has, meanwhile, hit back at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her remarks against the judiciary, saying many judgements were written in exchange for money.
"I must confess that I'm appalled at hearing this. The Chief Minister of a state under the Constitution of India is a constitutional functionary, the head of the executive. And one institution passing these kinds of comments about another co-equal institution can only be called regrettable and if this is the tone and tenor of Indian democracy then I think our constitution is in serious peril. I don't think I can put it in stronger words," said Supreme Court advocate and former Solicitor General Harish Salve.
Many eminent jurists also said that Ms Banerjee shouldn't make accusations without proof.
"It is an irresponsible statement. If she has proof that judges took money she should lodge FIR with the police, but making wild statements are not good," said Constitutional expert PP Rao.
The Communist Party of India (CPM) too slammed Ms Banerjee. "It has become the hallmark of Chief Minister of West Bengal to make wild charges. You accuse the journalists, opponents, professors and also the victims themselves. When you fail to deliver, to cover it up," said CPM leader Mohammed Salim.