Constructive criticism is welcome, says Mamata

Constructive criticism by newspapers is welcome, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday.

She was addressing a gathering after renaming some roads after well known journalists in the city on Saturday.

The Dhapa Road has been renamed after Barun Sengupta, the founder Editor of Bartaman. Recalling her long association with Sengupta, Banerjee said it was he who had advised her to open a fund for those who had been killed or injured after police opened fire in the rally on July 21. "I would not have been Mamata Banerjee without Barun da's support," she said adding: "He took me to a meeting and got me introduced to the people. How can I forget those days," she said.

A park will be renamed after Gour Kishore Ghosh. Ghosh rose to fame after criticising Emergency. He, along with Barun Sengupta, got arrested and were jailed. Banerjee said Ghosh had supported her movements. "How can I forget his love and affection for me."

A road in South Kolkata will be renamed after Amitabha Chowdhury. Chowdhury, a well known journalist, was equally famous as an essayist and a limerist. "I had been to his house and he had supported my movement to save the green cover in Rabindra Sarovar." A road will be renamed after Suhas Talukdar, the editor of Uttarbanga Sambad. Talukdar had supported Mamata Banerjee's movement to help the poorest of he poor of the different communities in North Bengal.

These journalists had filed reports without fear and it is our duty to remember them and their work, she maintained.