Bharatiya Janata Party's Expulsion of TMC Leader Mahua Moitra Sparks Opposition Backlash

Opposition leaders have criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for expelling TMC leader Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha following cash-for-query allegations. The expulsion came after a contentious debate during which Moitra was denied the opportunity to speak, leading to a motion by Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi for her expulsion, adopted through a voice vote.

West Bengal's TMC leader, Shashi Panja, accused the BJP of intolerance towards women in power and asserted that Moitra would contest the elections in 2024. Congress MP Manickam Tagore likened Moitra's silencing to a suppression of voices against powerful entities, citing her outspoken stance against the Adani group. He expressed concerns about democracy, calling it a "black day."

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor viewed Moitra's expulsion as a concerning sign for democracy and hoped for her re-election with a larger majority. Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned the decision's adherence to the natural course of justice.

Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav criticized the BJP's attitude toward women and freedom of speech. She highlighted the contradiction between the government's support for the Women's Reservation Bill and Moitra's expulsion for expressing views on corporate influence.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti termed Moitra's expulsion a sad day for democracy, emphasizing the disregard for due process and the price she paid for speaking truth to power.

BJP's Response and Counterclaims

Ethics Committee member Aparajita Sarangi defended Moitra's expulsion, stating that supporting her meant endorsing unethical standards and a lack of adherence to parliamentary procedures. She emphasized the matter as one of responsibility, not gender.

West Bengal BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul justified Moitra's expulsion, accusing her of compromising national security and predicting a CBI investigation leading to imprisonment.

Moitra's Daring Response

Following her expulsion, Moitra vowed to fight the BJP for the next 30 years, inside and outside Parliament. She accused the party of hating Muslims and women and criticized the handling of national security matters related to Adani's business interests.