Mamata 'dictatorial and whimsical', says Justice Katju

Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, on Sunday drew flak from Justice Markendey Katju, a former Supreme Court judge and now chairman of the Press Council of India, for her tyrannical behaviour towards a minor protestor.

During a speech by Banerjee at a public rally in Midnapore district of the state on Saturday, one Shiladitya Choudhury, audibly said, ''You are making false promises.'' He also asked what steps the chief minister was taking to protect farmers.

Chaudhury was promptly arrested and charged with intimidation, assault and trespass. Banerjee publicly called him a ''Maoist''.

Katju said Banerjee was "dictatorial, intolerant and whimsical", and was not fit to be a leader in a democratic country. The action amounted to "blatant misuse" of state machinery and a "flagrant violation" of constitutional and human rights.

"Her action is most undemocratic to say the least," Katju said in a statement.

Banerjee has long been plumbing new depths even for a country accustomed to its powers-that-be behaving like the Shahs and satraps of old.