IT is very strange that Punjab Governor Salman Taseer should be suggesting that he would open the 'doors of Governor House' to the public to celebrate Basant. The other day, he tendered an unsolicited advice to the Punjab government to lift restrictions on its celebration, without appreciating the grave consequences it could lead to. He should know that over the years the festival has become extremely controversial among different sections of society, with certain elements deadly opposing it not only on religious grounds but on the basis of the invariable loss of life and heavy expenditure the festival entails. Somehow, others regard it as a means of having fun. For the Governor to extend patronage to this small class of people sounds anything but prudent. There is, therefore, little justification for him to enter the fray. Instead of making moves that make already charged sentiments flare up on the issue, the Governor should act to bring sanity. Telling the government to do away with the ban and make sure that the metal-coated thread, which is one source of causing death, was not used, in no way, serves the purpose. Unfortunately, meddling with sensitive issues in a manner that creates further tension has become a norm with Governor Taseer, which does not bring credit to the high office he holds. One would like to hope that he would desist from giving way to this failing.