Lok Sabha Proceedings during the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address took a chaotic turn due to a very passionate Speech by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, so much so, that two BJP MP's moved a privilege motion over her remarks in parliament on a former Chief Justice of India.
Her scathing speech has once again found her in the centre of praise and controversy, where she took on the government no holds barred, starting from their "faulty" policies and authoritarianism, calling out the government for choosing "brutality over morality" and also commented on the mismanagement of dissent with regards to the ongoing farmer's protest in the country.
Moitra also proceeded to talk about the appointment of a “former CJI”, being accused of sexual harassment and then presiding over his own trial. This was followed by uproar in the House, with BJP members demanding her remarks be expunged but Moitra stood her ground defiantly. Later on, she tweeted “Truth cannot be expunged “.
She also heavily criticized the government for what she thought was appropriating the legacy of Historical leaders like Subhash Chandra Bose, and reiterated that Bose stood for National integration, and that the government has simply reduced his legacy to a "narrow religious chant", aiming at alienating the various minorities in the country. In an interview to NDTV, Moitra simply said she was speaking nothing but the truth and that the standard of national discourse has become such that speaking the truth is seen as "a revolutionary act"
"I don't think I have said something which is very, very brave in the Lok Sabha. I am there speaking my heart out, what I am speaking is the truth. It is my right to do so as Indian and for the people I represent. The problem that has happened is, imagine how low our bar for courage has fallen in this country, that the very act of speaking the truth is seen as a revolutionary act. The standard of mediocrity that is prevalent everywhere in politics and society today makes even one spark seem like a flame," she said.
In response to the privilege motion against her moved by two BJP MP's based on her remarks on a Former CJI of India , Ranjan Gogoi, she said it was typical dirty tricks and propaganda aimed at shutting her down. This was her response:
This is typical BJP tactics. If you can't get them with the CBI or ED, then try every dirty trick in the book. If you remember my first speech, way back in June 2019. They first did not catch on that it would become viral or people would identify with my words. In a couple of days' time when they found out that it did, immediately they set one of their pet media channels to come at with this entire plagiarism rubbish,"
However, legal opinion was in favour of Mahua Moitra as she spoke about a former, not sitting, Chief Justice who currently does not count as a "higher authority" and hence it was decided that a breach of privilege motion will not be moved against her.
Apart from this, the MP attacked Home Minister Amit Shah for attending election rallies in the State of West Bengal instead of being present in the Parliament
Parliament is on, Lok Sabha is on, the Honourable Home Minister of the country should be present in the Lok Sabha. What is he doing in an election rally in Bengal, undermining the state government? Mr Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister, was talking about Chinese aggression and India's counter to it. Everyone is talking about whatever's happening at the borders and the state of law and order in this country. Is it not the duty of the Home Minister to be in parliament at least for a few hours .....Is that what he owes this country? His priorities are very clear," Ms Moitra said.
The speech seems to have struck a chord in the hearts of many in the country, while some cant help but see it in a controversial light. Meanwhile Moitra remains seemingly unfazed by these remarks, sticking to the stance that the truth shall prevail.
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