Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to safeguard the country's democracy and the federal structure. She claimed the democratic institutions in the country are being stifled. "If this trend continues, the nation is heading for a presidential form of government.
The Bengal CM claimed all the democratic power in the society is being seized by a certain section of people. She also criticised the media bias and said: "Can they abuse anybody? Can they accuse anybody? Sir, our prestige is our izzat. Once our prestige is violated, it's all over," reported NDTV.
She was speaking at the convocation ceremony of the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS) in Kolkata. Justice UU Lalit is the Chancellor of the university and he was present at the event.
Being the Chief Guest at the convocation, she also praised NUJS and called it one of the most important institutions in the world. "I must congratulate Justice UU Lalit. I don't know if I can use this platform to say this, but in two months, he has shown what the judiciary means," she added.
She further clarified that people haven't lost faith in the judiciary but the situation has gone from bad to worse. "The judiciary must save the people from injustice and hear their cries. Right now, people are crying behind closed doors."