This refers to the editorial, “A dangerous appointment” (June 3). The editorial has rightly accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for bringing Siddiqullah Chowdhury as the Minister of State (with Independent Charge) for Education, library and Parliamentary Affairs into her Cabinet for Muslim votes. It is a tragedy that politics in our country is no more driven by national interests, to serve important goals of social, economic and educational progress. The pursuit of vote-bank politics, to capture power, seems to be the primary agenda for our politicians.
One had hoped that Banerjee, who believes in simple living and dressing and identifies herself with the poor people, would rise above electoral politics. Sadly, her action of appointing a Jamaati functionary with an Islamic cleric's mindset, and giving him a crucial education portfolio, belies that principled expectation. More than that, it also mocks her sophisticated Bengali supporters who have put her in the top office for the second time.