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Journalism of Courage
The Trinamool Congress has been maintaining a studied silence over the development surrounding Baba Ramdev. The party has chosen not to comment on the issue,despite the Opposition taking on the Congress-led UPA government for the crackdown on Baba Ramdev at Ramlila grounds on Sunday. Instead,Trinamool leaders are saying that its not an important issue.
We have not discussed the issue,we have nothing to say, said Sudip Bandyopadhyay,MP and chief whip of the party in Parliament. Union Minister for Urban Development Sougata Ray chose not to comment on the issue. We have nothing to say, was his response. Dinesh Trivedi,the Union Minister of State for Health who had criticised the government for sending four ministers to meet Ramdev,was unavailable for comment.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has herself held prolonged hunger strikes,spanning over 26 days,demanding the return of land to farmers at Singur in 2006. This was long before Anna Haraze and Baba Ramdev used hunger strike as a tool to protest.
However,the reason why some Trinamool leaders remain silent is that before the West Bengal Assembly polls Ramdev had come to the state and called for a change,lending overt support to Mamata. Mamata is honest,she has struggled against corruption and atrocities. I am for political change in Bengal. Mamata should be given a chance, he had announced.
This is not the first time that the Trinamool has remained silent on crucial situations faced by the UPA government,say the partys rivals. On many important issues at the national level the Trinamool Congress has not come out with statements. Be it the Maoists or Baba Ramdev,their politics is closely guarded, said CPM leader Md Selim.
