I accept criticism. It helps me learn, says Mamata Banerjee. BJP comeback follows | Kolkata

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KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday she welcomes criticism as it gives her an opportunity to learn, prompting a scathing comeback from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which recalled the Jadavpur professor who was facing an 11-year criminal case for forwarding a cartoon deemed derogatory towards Banerjee.

I am not above criticism. I like it when someone criticizes me because maybe I’m learning something. What’s better than that? she said during her speech at the opening of the 46th Kolkata International Book Fair (IKBF) on Monday.

The Chief Minister also said efforts were being made to muzzle free speech and fuel hatred and asked people to speak up to protect democracy.

We must raise our voices to protect democracy if need be. We must be aware of any attempt to reverse our original history. Let’s be united. We want peace and prosperity. We want to fight poverty, she says.

The BJP, which was seen as the target of his digs, was quick to retaliate.

The one who sends the police to arrest a professor for passing on a cartoon and describes someone as a Maoist for questioning her now says she invites criticism. There are countless such instances that reflect his vindictive and intolerant attitude. These statements do not sit well with him, said BJP leader Rahul Sinha.

Sinhas’ reference to the professor comes days after a court hearing dismissed Ambikesh Mahapatra, a professor of chemistry at Jadavpur University, in a case filed against him in April 2012 after forwarding an email that allegedly contained derogatory cartoons of Banerjee and Trinamool Congress leader Mukul. Roy, after taking office as Minister of Railways to replace Dinesh Trivedi in the then Congress-led UPA government.

In his speech on Monday, Banerjee also proposed that the organizers of the IKBF also organize a book fair in Delhi. The state government would make arrangements and all districts in West Bengal would participate, she said.

The Chief Minister has also published her six books including a book on Kolkatas Durga Puja, an English translation of a collection of poems written by her in Bengali and hi, a book on 100 Women Freedom Fighters among others.

Banerjee said that while 128 of his books had already been published until the 2022 book fair and six more were on the way to launch this year, four to five books were in the works and were likely to be published by now. next year’s book fair.

It is not my responsibility to maintain an account. It is the responsibility of the editors. There is not just one publisher, she added.

The book fair will continue from January 31 to February 12. The ninth edition of the Kolkata Literature Festival will take place at SBI Auditorium from February 9 to 11.

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