Letters: Handling criticism

Apropos the editorial "Public trials?" (May 5), a call for a public trial of the media by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is not only outrageous to the core, but also betrays his own sense of paranoia and a growing frustration for his inability to manage the affairs of the party for reasons entirely attributable to him and his cronies. It is also ironical that he should now turn so hostile to the very media that catapulted him to his current level of power, prominence and authority from virtual obscurity before his joining the Anna Hazare-led movement against corruption.

As rightly observed, it is not as if Kejriwal is left with no other option to seek remedy against the media for their "conspiracy" to "finish off" the party except for trying them by a kangaroo court. Such irresponsible and provocative behaviour by a sitting chief minister deserves the strongest condemnation. Instead of launching such a virulent attack on the media, Kejriwal must pause and introspect over his own contradictions and his failure in managing dissents within his party, leading to some prominent founding members' open revolt against his authoritarian style of functioning.

It is time Kejriwal takes his job of governance as chief minister seriously. He must stop having confrontations with all the institutions and make himself amenable to criticism from within the Aam Aadmi Party as well as outside, including the media.

S K Choudhury Bengaluru

Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number