Mahua Moitra in the Lok Sabha on her expulsion

New Delhi: TMC MP Mahua Moitra has slammed the ruling party for expelling her in the last session of the Lok Sabha. She says they paid a very heavy price for disenfranchising her, which led to the loss of 63 BJP MPs.

During a discussion on the motion of thanks for the President’s address to a joint session of Parliament, she said the BJP will not be able to treat the opposition the way it did during the last session.

“The last time I appeared, I was not allowed to speak. The ruling party has paid a very heavy price for suppressing the voice of an MP,” she said, referring to her expulsion from the 17th Lok Sabha in December 2023 in connection with the cash-for-query case.

“In their attempt to silence me, the public silenced them, which resulted in them losing 63 MPs… I am fed up of someone turning me down, so they lost 63 MPs,” Moitra began in a defiant tone.

Moitra condemned the installation of Sengol in Parliament and described him as a symbol of monarchy that has no place in a democracy.

“The BJP’s ‘Raj Tantra’ has been weakened by the ‘Lok Tantra’ of this country. This is not a stable government. It needs many allies who have made U-turns in their history. This time we are 234 warriors who have walked over fire. They will not be able to treat us like they did last time,” she said.

Referring to the President’s speech, Moitra criticised the omission of important issues.

“The President’s address covers six topics. The budget for the Northeast has been quadrupled, but the word ‘Manipur’ does not appear anywhere in the speech.

“The Prime Minister has not once mentioned ‘Muslim’, ‘madrassa’, ‘mutton’, ‘machhli’ and ‘mujra’ during the election campaign, but he has not mentioned ‘Manipur’. We don’t need you to look East or act East. We need you to work East and most importantly, embrace the East,” she said.

Moitra contradicted the government’s claims that women are more in demand than ever before.

“This is a complete untruth. You have delayed the inauguration of Parliament because you fear ‘Naari Shakti’,” she said.

This time there are only 74 female MPs, with the BJP providing only 30 out of 240.

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

“While we have empowered three lakh ‘lakhpati didis’, the BJP seems to be focusing on creating ‘Arabpati dadas’,” Moitra said.

On Kashmir, the TMC MP questioned the abrogation of Article 370.

“If repeal was such a good idea, then why did the BJP not field candidates in Baramulla, Srinagar and Anantnag-Rajouri? You demoted Ladakh and five years later you are still waiting to be included in the Sixth Schedule. As a result, the Ladakhis have relegated you to third place,” she said.

Moitra also attacked the Election Commission, accusing it of bias.

“We won despite the EU Commission, not because of it. The Commissioners ignored the worst violations of the code of conduct by the ruling party and the Prime Minister.

“This election will be remembered for the fact that a zealous and compliant EC turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the ruling party. Ultimately, the voters took control and said, ‘Bahut ho gaya,'” she said.

Criticising the government’s infrastructure projects, Moitra said, “They are approving Rs 108 crore for the Vande Bharat bullet train project. Last year, three trains collided in Balasore because there was no kavach; last week, there was no kavach in the train accident. With the current funding, it will take 50 years to equip all trains with kavach.

“Kavach” is a Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that provides automatic train protection and collision avoidance functions for trains.

“Our aviation has become a centre of domestic dangers. Canopies are falling down at newly constructed airports and the Pragati Maidan tunnel is flooded. This is what happens when infrastructure is poorly planned and hastily used by the supreme leader for photo opportunities,” she said.

Moitra concluded with a poignant reflection on her personal sacrifices and the broader political landscape.

“People told me, ‘Mahua, you have lost so much. You have lost your membership, your house.’ I also lost my uterus, but do you know what I have gained? I am free from fear,” she said.

Moitra underwent a hysterectomy last year, around the time she was asked to vacate her house following her suspension from the Lok Sabha.