KURSEONG: Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee stood up for Trinamool Congress’s expelled Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra on Friday by declaring she would get “justice in the people’s Parliament“, a remark that is being interpreted as an assurance of a ticket to seek re-election in the high-stakes Lok Sabha elections next year.
“To expel her is to cheat the mandate of the people,” said Mamata.”The party was with Mahua, remains with her, and will continue to stand by her on this issue.”
On whether that meant Mahua was certain to be fielded in the Lok Sabha elections, the CM said, “I do not see any reason why she can’t be the party candidate. She has been made the TMC president in Krishnanagar district.”
Accusing BJP of “murdering democracy”, the CM said the expelled MP was even denied the right to defend herself. “I fail to understand how only 30 minutes were allowed for a debate on a 495-page report submitted by the ethics committee in the Lok Sabha. Their (BJP) political vendetta led them to target and harass a woman, especially one who belongs to the young generation,” Mamata said, alleging that expelling an MP by voice vote was akin to a “bypass surgery on democracy”.
“The elections are just 2-3 months away. It was all about attending one more (Parliament) session at the most. Yet, she (Mahua) was denied that chance (to defend herself). I thought the Prime Minister must have considered it. This only proves how vindictive BJP’s politics is. This is unfortunate for democracy. I am shocked, and it is a sad day for the Indian Parliament.”
The CM, who is in Kurseong as part of a tour of the north Bengal districts, told reporters that BJP should have shown the courage to take on Mahua in an electoral fight rather than hasten her exit from Parliament. “She will win the battle. People will give BJP a befitting reply.”
Mamata said Trinamool Congress and the multi-party opposition alliance INDIA would fight Mahua’s expulsion in one voice. “Today, I congratulate INDIA for being all together (on this),” she told reporters.
PCC president and MP Adhir Chowdhury’s remarks reinforced the belief that the Mahua issue is the unlikely glue between Trinamool, Congress and CPM, who are otherwise at daggers drawn in Bengal. “This (her expulsion) was done for baseless reasons, and with the sentiment of revenge. This government has insulted women,” said Chowdhury, who had written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against the alleged hounding of an elected MP.
CPM central committee member Sujan Chakraborty termed the action against Mahua “overactiveness with the brute force of the majority”, marking what he said was “a black day for Parliament”.
“To expel her is to cheat the mandate of the people,” said Mamata.”The party was with Mahua, remains with her, and will continue to stand by her on this issue.”
On whether that meant Mahua was certain to be fielded in the Lok Sabha elections, the CM said, “I do not see any reason why she can’t be the party candidate. She has been made the TMC president in Krishnanagar district.”
Accusing BJP of “murdering democracy”, the CM said the expelled MP was even denied the right to defend herself. “I fail to understand how only 30 minutes were allowed for a debate on a 495-page report submitted by the ethics committee in the Lok Sabha. Their (BJP) political vendetta led them to target and harass a woman, especially one who belongs to the young generation,” Mamata said, alleging that expelling an MP by voice vote was akin to a “bypass surgery on democracy”.
“The elections are just 2-3 months away. It was all about attending one more (Parliament) session at the most. Yet, she (Mahua) was denied that chance (to defend herself). I thought the Prime Minister must have considered it. This only proves how vindictive BJP’s politics is. This is unfortunate for democracy. I am shocked, and it is a sad day for the Indian Parliament.”
The CM, who is in Kurseong as part of a tour of the north Bengal districts, told reporters that BJP should have shown the courage to take on Mahua in an electoral fight rather than hasten her exit from Parliament. “She will win the battle. People will give BJP a befitting reply.”
Mamata said Trinamool Congress and the multi-party opposition alliance INDIA would fight Mahua’s expulsion in one voice. “Today, I congratulate INDIA for being all together (on this),” she told reporters.
PCC president and MP Adhir Chowdhury’s remarks reinforced the belief that the Mahua issue is the unlikely glue between Trinamool, Congress and CPM, who are otherwise at daggers drawn in Bengal. “This (her expulsion) was done for baseless reasons, and with the sentiment of revenge. This government has insulted women,” said Chowdhury, who had written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against the alleged hounding of an elected MP.
CPM central committee member Sujan Chakraborty termed the action against Mahua “overactiveness with the brute force of the majority”, marking what he said was “a black day for Parliament”.