Mend your ways or lose power, Markandey Katju tells Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju today slammed Mamata Banerjee for being "increasingly intolerant and whimsical" and asked her to mend her ways but the West Bengal Chief Minister hit back by saying her government would not function at anyone's diktat.

"From what I could gather during my visits to Kolkata, your ministers and bureaucrats are afraid to speak out their minds fearlessly before you and are terrorised by your unpredictable and whimsical behaviour. ... This is a very unhealthy state of affairs and you will not be able to remain as Chief Minister for long unless you change your ways and become more tolerant," Katju said in a letter to Banerjee which was posted in his blog.

Describing himself as her well wisher, the former Supreme Court judge pointed out that he had praised her at one time.

"But of late you seem to have become increasingly intolerant and whimsical, which is only going to land you in big trouble. It is still not too late for you if you listen to my advice and change your ways," he said.

Asked to comment on Katju's letter, Banerjee told reporters here that "I have not received any letter. This (state) government will not function at anyone's diktat. If someone thinks that he will make us work by force and threat, it will not be done."

The 'government is for the people, by the people and of the people', she said adding "my government will function according to convention and constitution. My government is for democracy and will be for democracy. We even took action against our own partymen."