Trinamool MP's blunder

No responsible public representative would try to gain political mileage by making completely false and misleading statements. Every politician and elected leader should have a basic understanding that such remarks and interpretations only create confusion among people and disturb social harmony. Some politicians try to take advantage of how fast lies can spread—often much faster than the truth—and end up becoming the operators of “fake news factories.” By doing this, they not only betray the people who elected them but also harm the nation’s security.

India’s democracy is not unfamiliar with leaders who shout anything they like whenever they see an excited crowd. Ultimately, they only damage their own credibility. One such example is the recent statement made by Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee in West Bengal. He made a huge, baseless claim that the Raj Bhavan—where Malayali Anand Bose serves as Governor—is providing shelter and weapons to criminals to help the BJP. The MP presented this lie as if it were confirmed information. His only aim seemed to be to tarnish the reputation of Anand Bose, a respected former IAS officer known for his strong understanding of the Constitution and democratic values. Not just that, in recent times, leaders in politics and administration in some states have made it a trend to gain applause through the cheap tactic of criticising Governors.

Speaking impulsively just to earn applause, like blurting out any song for a treat, is conduct unbecoming of an elected representative who holds a constitutional position. Usually, Governors ignore such accusations. The Trinamool MP may also have expected Anand Bose to dismiss the allegation casually. But the Governor took the charge seriously and reacted in an unexpected way. He ordered a thorough search of the Raj Bhavan with the help of the police and CRPF to check whether any weapons or explosives were stored there. A full inspection was carried out, and nothing was found. The Governor even cut short his North Bengal tour to oversee this inspection.

The Trinamool MP who made the allegation has not reacted yet. Politicians skilled in spreading lies often try to twist situations later. So it won’t be surprising if he again tries to mislead the public by saying weapons were removed before the inspection. The Governor has warned that action will be taken if the MP does not withdraw the baseless allegation and apologise. One of the biggest challenges Indian democracy faces today is that people can make any accusation against anyone without facts or evidence. There should even be a legal amendment to impose stricter punishments, including removal from office, when those holding constitutional positions make such irresponsible and false allegations.