TMC’s Mahua Moitra Criticizes Modi Government, Claims BJP Paid Heavy Price for Silencing Her

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra criticized the BJP-led NDA government on Monday for suspending her during the last Lok Sabha session. She claimed that the BJP faced significant consequences for trying to silence her, resulting in the loss of 63 BJP MPs in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

During a discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address to a joint session of Parliament, Moitra, who represents the Krishnanagar constituency in West Bengal, stated that the BJP would not be able to treat the opposition as they did in the previous session.

“Last time I stood up to speak, I was not allowed. The ruling party paid a heavy price for trying to silence one MP,” Moitra said, as quoted by PTI. She was referring to her suspension in the last session.

“In their attempt to silence me, the public silenced them, causing them to lose 63 MPs… mujhko bithane ke chakkar mein janta ne aapko bitha diya, aapke 63 MPs loss kar diya,” Moitra said, setting a defiant tone.

Moitra criticized the installation of the Sengol in Parliament, calling it a symbol of monarchy that has no place in a democracy.

She also argued that the government is unstable due to the BJP’s minority status and its reliance on allies, which could lead to its collapse at any time.

“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 said.

Omission of Critical Issues Moitra criticized the Modi government for omitting critical issues in the President’s speech.

“There are six themes in the President’s address. The budget for the North-East has increased four times, yet the word ‘Manipur’ is nowhere in the speech.

“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.

Women Empowerment Challenging the government’s claims on women empowerment, Moitra said, “This is a complete untruth. You delayed reservation in Parliament because you fear ’naari shakti’.”

She pointed out that there are only 74 women MPs this time, with the BJP having just 30 out of 240.

In contrast, the TMC had 37% women MPs last time and 38% this time, she noted.

“While we have empowered three lakh ’lakhpati didis’, the BJP seems focused on creating ‘arabpati dadas’,” Moitra said.

On Kashmir The TMC MP questioned the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

“If abrogating it was such a good idea, why did the BJP not field candidates in Baramulla, Srinagar, and Anantnag-Rajouri? You downgraded Ladakh, and five years later, they are still waiting for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. As a result, the Ladakhis relegated you to the third place,” she said.

Infrastructure Projects Criticizing the government’s infrastructure projects, Moitra said, “You are sanctioning ₹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.