Mum's the word

It is no secret that cabinet ministers in West Bengal are not allowed to make major policy announcements since these can only come from Mamata Banerjee. Perhaps that is why didi’s ministers often have nothing to say during public engagements. At a recent meeting on tax reforms with members of a chamber of commerce in Kolkata, State Finance Minister Amit Mitra was heard referring to “Mamata Banerjee” seven times in a 25-minute speech. Not only that, he repeatedly said, “Whatever I am saying, I have already said in the Assembly and I am fully compliant with elections’ code of conduct.” With such little liberty to speak, Mitra eventually branded himself a babu in a government office: “You will have to produce 13.6 per cent growth in state domestic produce. We sit in offices, we are babu politicians. You will have to produce tax revenue,” he said.