Known for her unhinged rants and abusive behaviour inside and outside the parliament, TMC MP Mahua Moitra stoked a fresh controversy when she used sexual innuendos to take potshots at NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma over her viral picture from a visit to Hathras, UP.
Sharma was seen at the site, with someone carrying an umbrella for her. Journalist Nidhi Razdan on X wanted to know why the chairman did not hold the umbrella herself. Moitra responded to Razdan’s post on X, commenting, “She’s too busy holding up her boss’s pajamas,” sparking online backlash at the choice of the words for the NCW chairperson.
The remarks triggered a suo moto cognisance from the National Commission for Women, which wrote to the Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla demanding strict action against Moitra, who was expelled in her last term following allegations of ‘cash for query’ allegations. The Commission also demanded an FIR against the TMC MP for a comment that doesn’t behove a lawmaker.
Instead, Mahua has doubled down on her abusive behaviour, expressing no remorse for the choice of words she had used against a fellow woman. She challenged Delhi Police to get to her in the next three days. “Come on Delhi Police please take action immediately on these suo moto orders. Am in Nadia in case you need me in the next 3 days to make a quick arrest. I Can Hold My Own Umbrella,” she tweeted.
Come on @DelhiPolice please take action immediately on these suo moto orders. Am in Nadia in case you need me in the next 3 days to make a quick arrest.
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 5, 2024
I Can Hold My Own Umbrella . https://t.co/pXvRSVSzxa
Moitra’s egregious conduct is not a new phenomenon. She has a chequered history of demonstrating perverse conduct and has even displayed the audacity to defend herself. Saying ‘hara*i’ inside the parliament, showing the middle finger to Arnab Goswami for asking tough questions, and celebrating abuses hurled at PM Modi are some of the instances that demonstrate her lack of basic decency and penchant for nasty demeanour.
Here is an illustrative list of instances demonstrating Mahua Moitra’s lack of basic decency and behaviour unbefitting of an MP
Mahua Moitra uses ‘hara*i’ inside the parliament
On February 7, Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra was caught using abusive language in Parliament. In a viral video, she was heard saying the word ‘hara*i’ while Telugu Desham Party lawmaker Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu was speaking. Following the social media uproar over her actions, the MP from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s party went on an unrestrained rant. Netizens questioned her ulterior motives, which further aggravated the TMC leader.
Mahua Moitra showed her middle finger to Arnab Goswami
In January 2015, during a debate on Times Now, Mahua Moitra, now the editor-in-chief of Republic, showed the middle finger to Arnab Goswami. The discussion was about the ‘attempt to murder’ charges against a man who had slapped TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata Banerjee’s nephew. After being attacked by TMC workers, the man was hospitalized in critical condition. During the debate, Moitra repeatedly asked Arnab to let her “finish the sentence,” eventually losing her temper and telling him to “talk to yourself and not invite anybody” on his show, while making the offensive gesture.
Mahua Moitra assaulted a female constable in Silchar
In August 2018, Mahua Moitra was accused of assaulting a female Assam Police constable at Silchar airport. Reports state she was part of an eight-member TMC delegation visiting the state to discuss issues related to the NRC. Upon their arrival, the police requested assurances that they would not make provocative speeches or incite violence. An argument ensued between the police and the delegation, resulting in physical altercations with the police officers. According to the Director General of Police, two constables and a district administration official were injured.
Mahua Moitra celebrated abuses hurled at PM Modi
In October 2021, Mahua Moitra celebrated a supporter who insulted PM Modi. She tweeted, “You know BJP days are numbered when, while campaigning in a toto for the Shantipur by-election, an old man, halfway through his bath, ran out shouting in Bengali – ‘LPG hazaar taka – ei b*@#***d Modi ke hatao!’ Priceless!”
Mahua Moitra used derogatory language for ex-CJI
In July 2022, a complaint was filed against Mahua Moitra for using derogatory language towards former Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, and for defaming an entire community. The complaint stemmed from a tweet on July 14 in which she stated, “My first of new Twitter series on replacements for unparliamentary words. Banned word- Sexual Harassment. Replacement- Mr Gogoi.”
Mahua Moitra glorified terrorists accused of the Pulwama attack by using similar abuses
On several occasions, TMC’s “firebrand” has used the notorious Gaumutra jibe against BJP leaders. This same jibe was notably used by the terrorist accused of the Pulwama attack in a video recorded just before the incident. In February 2022, she remarked, “Am speaking this evening in Lok Sabha on President’s Address. Just wanted to give early heads-up to @BJP to get the heckler team ready & read up on imaginary points of order. Drink some gaumutra shots too.”
Previously, in May 2021, she said, “Welcome to our Susu Potty Republic! Drink Gaumutra, smear cow dung & flush the rule of law down the toilet. Delhi Police issued a notice to Twitter & land up in their offices for rightly calling out @BJP’s fake document as manipulated media. Go figure.”
Moitra frequently uses abusive language and is notorious for spreading false and misleading information. Recently, she was caught attempting to mislead her followers on Twitter regarding SBI’s exposure to the Adani Group.
The above instances, which are indicative and not an exhaustive list, illustrate Moitra’s propensity for being abusive and nasty against her political opponents and not being one bit remorseful for lowering the dignity of the office she holds. It shows that crass conduct has, unfortunately, become a staple part of her everyday political conduct, which entails insulting political rivals and officials for either belonging to the other side of the spectrum or simply doing their job as in the recent case when Rekha Sharma was engrossed in reaching Hathras for taking stock of the situation following the fateful stampede that led to the loss of 121 lives.
