Minister's irresponsible remarks!

TO say that we are shocked at the remarks made by the Minister for Textiles and Jute as the chief guest during a discussion meeting organised by Awami League Sangskritik Forum to discuss the issue of trial of war criminals, will be an understatement.
We are aghast that such careless utterances could come from an elected representative of the people who happens to be a senior member of Sheikh Hasina's cabinet too. In the said meeting, that had nothing to do with the BCL, the minister found it fitting to advise the Chattra League to go after the opposition parties instead of indulging in intra-party clashes. To say the least, the comments are utter errant and amounts to inciting and instigating violence, especially against the opposition.
Referring to allegations of violence, tender business and extortion against BCL, he said that for seven years the student party's leaders and workers had taken a beating during BNP-Jamaat alliance rule and caretaker government. 'They are not involved in the offences they are alleged of', the minister added. One found many responsible persons in the government in a denial mode insofar as the misdeeds of the BCL Chhatra League are concerned, which in itself is appalling, but to defend them all the way is a travesty of truth.
We have observations on two different aspects of the matter. One is of judiciousness and the other relates to the substance.
Mr. Abdul Latif Siddique happens to be a veteran politician of long standing, a senior member of the cabinet who enjoys a high stature in the party. Is it befitting him to utter denigrating comments endorsing criminality? Is it becoming of a person of his stature to flatly deny that the BCL members are not involved in extortions, tender business and such activities, for which the Party Chief was constrained to severe her association with the BCL. He is also in clear contradiction with the party's General Secretary who has publicly disavowed any responsibility for the illegal activities of the BCL.
The minister has also cast aspersion on the media, vilifying it with a broad brush of accusation which he does not bother to substantiate? The readers are the best judge of the media's performance, but we would like to stress that crass comments about an institution does no harm to it, on the contrary, it belittles the person that makes such comments.
From the ministers one expects statements that are substantive, that deal with policies and lay out a vision for the country. We unfortunately hardly get it.
Comments of the kind that the minister has made send bad signals to the people apart from harming the government's credibility to deliver good governance. In the context of what he has said the natural question is what should the government do when a minister speaks in such a rustic and pedestrian manner?
The government owes a clarification to the people. We would like to ask it to let the public know whether it subscribes to the minister's comments. We suggest that it take public reaction to Mr. Siddique's utterances seriously and disassociate itself with his remarks. Otherwise, the conclusions they might draw may not be necessarily complimentary.