Mahua Moitra's Comments on Judicial Officer's Death Ignite Uproar in Lok Sabha

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra's comments regarding a judicial officer's death sparked a heated debate in the Lok Sabha.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised her for bringing up an issue resolved by the Supreme Court, suggesting possible parliamentary repercussions.

Photo Credit: PTI

Moitra's remarks were made during a discussion on 75 years of the Indian Constitution, leading to two brief adjournments. Speaker Om Birla intervened, requesting Moitra to verify her statements and promising to address concerns about Rijiju's language.

Parliamentary Tensions and Reactions

BJP member Nishikant Dubey raised the issue after Moitra's speech, accusing her of insinuating about the judicial officer's death. In response, Moitra posted on X, asserting that it was the Parliament Affairs Minister who should face action for threatening her. She insisted that his remarks should be deleted, not hers. Rijiju maintained that the case was settled and described Moitra's comments as serious, warning of parliamentary action.

When the House reconvened after two adjournments, senior opposition members Saugata Roy from TMC and K C Venugopal from Congress protested against Rijiju's choice of words. They emphasised that the Speaker is the custodian of the Lok Sabha. Both MPs suggested that if there were issues with Moitra's speech, appropriate rules could have been followed to seek action.

Opposition Demands and Speaker's Role

Addressing Speaker Birla, Venugopal stated, "You are the custodian. You have the powers to delete, expunge..." He criticised Rijiju for taking control of the House and virtually threatening a female member. Venugopal demanded an apology from Rijiju or for his remarks to be expunged. Roy accused Rijiju of attempting to intimidate Moitra.

The Speaker expressed disappointment over members engaging in personal allegations and counter-allegations. He urged them to focus on constructive debates related to constitutional issues. Birla reiterated his request for Moitra to authenticate her remarks and assured he would review Rijiju's comments for potential deletion if necessary.

Rijiju argued that any suggestion of interference in the judicial officer's death was unfounded. He warned against setting a negative precedent where members make similar allegations without basis. The minister stressed that appropriate parliamentary action would be taken against such conduct.

The incident highlighted tensions within the Lok Sabha over sensitive issues and underscored the importance of maintaining decorum during debates. The Speaker's role as a neutral arbiter was emphasised by opposition members seeking fair treatment for all MPs involved in contentious discussions.