Misleading statement
Maniruzzaman, Shamoly, Dhaka
A couple of days back, the agriculture minister, M K Anwar has made 'unwanted' statement in the Jatiya Sangsad about the former presidents of the republic. The laws of the land do not permit citizens like me to take legal action against these sort of derogatory statements, but in a "parliamentary democracy" representatives of a responsible government do make apology, regret or withdraw the statements if those are found "false and misleading". The honourable speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad may expunge those "non-parliamentary proceedings" if he desires. Two particular statements by the agriculture minister in the question-answer session during the adjourned sitting of the house on 25 April are totally "misleading". Those are: (1) a former president cannot denigrate any political party and (2) appropriate actions can be taken against the former president if he is involved with the "conspiracy to oust the government." The minister himself agreed to the point, "former presidents have the constitutional right to do politics despite enjoying state facilities." But he disowned his statement by further saying that "existing laws allow the government to take stern actions if any former president is involved with the conspiracy to topple the government." If a political party is defamed following the criticism of its misdeeds, then the opposition politicians have nothing to do. It is the party, which should be blamed for its failure in running the country. Moreover, no particular political party provides the state facilities to the former presidents. The former presidents enjoy those privileges and honour offered by the state. So former presidents, like other citizens of the country, can criticise any political party for its activities and failures, but not the state. The minister also told the parliament, "there are provisions to take actions against the former presidents if they are found engaged in the activities to unseat the government." But he has probably forgotten that the government of General Ershad was "unseated" through a mass movement. Did the politicians face trial for leading that "oust the government movement?" What a funny statement the minister made in the floor of the house! If the current government is "ousted" or "inundated" by the large-scale movement against it, will there be any trial for the "winning opposition political figures?" It is believed that the bureaucrat-turned-minister has earned 13 years of experience in politics. But it will be beneficial to promote democratic attitude within the parliament if the minister refrains from making "childish statements" provoked by those who flatter the political high-ups. The ministers should not make such statements since the former presidents do not have the privilege to express their opinions in parliament sessions.
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