TMC MP Mahua Moitra Breathes Fire In LS, Says BJP 'Paid Very Heavy Price For Throttling' Her Voice

TMC MP Mahua Moitra criticised the BJP's governance in Parliament, highlighting reduced seats from 303 to 240. She also referred to her previous expulsion from the Lok Sabha.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Monday during the Lok Sabha debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address.

In a pointed address during the Lok Sabha debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra launched a sharp critique of the BJP's governance. Reflecting on her previous experiences in Parliament, Moitra said, "The last time I stood here I was not allowed to speak. But the ruling party has paid a very heavy price for throttling the voice of one MP. In an attempt to suppress me, the public made 63 of your members sit permanently. You have gone down from 303 to 240."

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi exited the chamber at the start of her speech, Moitra remarked, "You came to my area twice, listen to me at least today sir. Nevermind my bad luck."

#WATCH | TMC MP Mahua Moitra says, "The last time I stood here I was not allowed to speak. But the ruling party has paid a very heavy price for throttling the voice of one MP. In an attempt to suppress me, the public made 63 of your members sit permanently..." pic.twitter.com/JXyBSqM2ta

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2024

Moitra recounted her maiden speech in June 2019, where she warned of the "seven signs of fascism" taking over the country. She contrasted this with the recent Parliament scene on June 7, 2024, where the President of India was welcomed with a sengol. "The sengol is a symbol of the supreme authority of a monarch; it has no place in the temple of constitutional democracy," she asserted, adding that the BJP has yet to understand that their "303 brute majority" has been reduced to a "240 seat minority."

"The BJP's 'raj tantra' has been reduced by the 'lok tantra' of this country. This is not a stable government. It depends on multiple allies who have a history of U-turns. We are 234 warriors this time, having walked on fire. You will not be able to treat us like last time," she asserted. "There are 234 warriors firmly united, and we have walked through fire to be able to walk through these doors, so you will not be able to shut us up this time the way you did last time."

She criticised the President's speechwriters for alleged outdated content, noting, "The speech that the Hon' President read out, she said the people of India have elected a stable govt with a clear majority. Please do not embarrass the office of the President by using poorly edited cut-and-paste versions of old speeches."

Mahua Moitra Hits Out At Modi Govt Over Manipur Violence, Women's Representation In Lok Sabha, Kashmir

Moitra tackled six themes from the President's address, beginning with the Northeast. "The government has increased allocation for the Northeast by four times, has worked for lasting peace in the area. No, I have one question: why is the word Manipur nowhere in the speech?" she questioned, highlighting the absence of the state's mention despite ongoing turmoil.

"The Prime Minister mentioned 'Muslim', 'madrassa', 'mutton', 'machhli' and 'mujra' but not 'Manipur' once during the campaigning. We don't need you to look East or act East. We need you to work East and, most importantly, embrace East," she said.

She quoted poet Pablo Neruda, as saying, "Come see the blood on the streets, please go to Manipur, see the blood on the streets," to underscore the severity of the situation.

On women's empowerment, Moitra decried the government's claims, pointing out that the 18th Lok Sabha has fewer women MPs than the 17th. "This is a complete untruth. First, you conveniently delayed the reservation for women in Parliament because you actually fear 'naari shakti'. There are just 74 women MPs this time, with the BJP having only 30 out of 240. In contrast, the TMC had 37 per cent women MPs last time and 38 per cent this time," she stated.

She praised her party's efforts, noting, "It is only Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress that in 2019 had 37% and even this time has got 38%."

Addressing the situation in Kashmir, Moitra questioned the BJP's reluctance to field candidates in key valley seats. "If abrogating Article 370 was such a good idea, why did the BJP not even dare to put up candidates in the three valley seats of Anantnag, Baramulla, and Srinagar?" she asked.

"If 370 was such a big deal and you were going to campaign on the basis of 370, you did not even dare to fight the seats. the Kashmir valley has voted in MPs who were against your 2019 decision," she added.

The Krishnanagar MP also criticised the government's handling of Ladakh's status, noting, "You downgraded Ladakh into a union territory and told them it was temporary. Today, five years later, they are still waiting, they have not gotten back their statehood, you have not given them a legislature, you have not included them in the sixth schedule you have not given their demand of two separate seats of Leh and Kargil. As a result in the current Lok Sabha, the Ladakhis have relegated you to the third position, you lost it.” 

Moitra also accused the Election Commission of bias, stating, "We won in spite of the EC, not because of it. Commissioners turned a deaf ear to the most egregious violations of the Model Code of Conduct by the ruling party and the prime minister. This election will be remembered for an eager and compliant EC turning a blind eye and a deaf ear towards the ruling party. Ultimately, the voters took charge and said 'bahut ho gaya'."

Criticising the government's infrastructure projects, Moitra highlighted safety concerns.

"You are sanctioning Rs 1.08 lakh crore for the Vande Bharat Bullet Train Project. In Balasore last year, three trains collided as there was no 'kavach'; last week, in the train accident there was no 'kavach'. With the current level of funding, it will take 50 years for 'kavach' to be installed on all trains. 'Kavach' is a Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that provides automated train protection as well as collision prevention capabilities for the trains. Our aviation sector has become a domestic hazard hub, with newly constructed airports having canopies falling and the Pragati Maidan tunnel flooding. This is what happens when infrastructure is poorly planned and rushed for photo opportunities by the supreme leader," she remarked.

‘Dushasan MPs Made Every Attempt To Disrobe Draupadi’: TMC MP Mahua Moitra On Her Expulsion

In her closing remarks, she referred to her expulsion from the previous Lok Sabha over the 'cash for query' matter, stating that the House was "transformed into the Kurusabha, where Dushasan MPs made every attempt to disrobe Draupadi." "The committee members who announced my expulsion from the House, the chairperson of the committee has lost, the lady who initiated the debate on my expulsion has lost. And most of the then-legislators have lost. Much like Lord Krishna protected Draupadi, the people of Krishnanagar have protected me."

"People would tell me, 'Mahua, you lost so much. You lost your membership, your house.' I also lost my uterus, but you know what I gained? I gained freedom from fear, we will see the end of you," she added.