Image-conscious Mamata goes for media watch

, Jan 2: Does a mass leader require to worry about media and spend tax payers money to monitor the media? The answer is clear no. A mass leader does not depend on media for validation of the policies and their public conduct. But if you are

, things would be operate differently.

Recent reports suggest that the West Bengal chief minister has hired a private agency to monitor reports on the government appearing in the print, electronic and web variety and submit daily reports to the chief minister. The social media, too, will be under the scanner.

With this what the media writes, shows or puts on the web will soon come under government scrutiny. Many in Mamata's Trinamool Congress want the government to keep a watch as there were so many television channels and newspapers apart from the social media like Twitter and Facebook. They want an agency to keep track of the developments in media and report to the chief minister on a daily basis.

The need for such close monitoring of the media arose after the chief minister alleged that a section has been trying to belittle the achievements of the government and the Trinamool party. .

One more could be that several ministers and senior party leaders have faced flak for making irresponsible comments at rallies and party meets.

Last month, the party issues a gag order on its leaders, asking them not to speak to the media. Everyone had to get their statements vetted by party secretary-general Partha Chatterjee before going public.

OneIndia News