Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra launched a fiery attack on the BJP-led NDA government on Monday, accusing them of silencing opposition voices and paying a heavy price for it. She highlighted the BJP’s loss of 63 MPs in the recent Lok Sabha elections, directly attributing it to their attempt to silence her during the previous session. “Last time I stood, I was not allowed to speak. The ruling party paid a very heavy price for throttling the voice of one MP,” Moitra said, referring to her suspension during the last Lok Sabha session. “In their attempt to silence me, the public silenced them, causing them to lose 63 MPs… mujhko bithane ke chakkar mein janta ne aapko bitha diya, aapke 63 MPs loss kar diya,” Moitra began, setting a defiant tone.
Moitra further criticized the installation of the Sengol in Parliament, calling it a symbol of monarchy with no place in a democracy. She also asserted that the government, due to the BJP’s minority status, is unstable and dependent on allies, potentially collapsing at any moment. “The BJP’s ‘raj tantra’ has been reduced by the ‘lok tantra’ of this country. This is not a stable government. It depends on multiple allies who have a history of U-turns. We are 234 warriors this time, having walked on fire. You will not be able to treat us like last time,” she said.
Moitra then focused on the President’s address to Parliament, criticizing the Modi government for the omission of critical issues. “There are six themes in the President’s address. The budget for the North-East has increased four times, yet the word ‘Manipur’ is nowhere in the speech. “The Prime Minister mentioned ‘Muslim’, ‘madrassa’, ‘mutton’, ‘machhli’ and ‘mujra’ but not ‘Manipur’ once during the campaigning. We don’t need you to look East or act East. We need you to work East and, most importantly, embrace East,” she said.
Challenging the government’s claims on women empowerment, Moitra said, “This is a complete untruth. You delayed reservation in Parliament because you fear ‘naari shakti’.” She pointed out that there are only 74 women MPs this time, with the BJP having just 30 out of 240. In contrast, the TMC had 37% women MPs last time and 38% this time. “While we have empowered three lakh ‘lakhpati didis’, the BJP seems focused on creating ‘arabpati dadas’,” Moitra said.
Moitra also questioned the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. “If abrogating it was such a good idea, why did the BJP not field candidates in Baramulla, Srinagar and Anantnag-Rajouri? You downgraded Ladakh, and five years later, they are still waiting for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. As a result, the Ladakhis relegated you to the third place,” she said.
Moitra further criticized the government’s infrastructure projects, including the Vande Bharat Bullet Train Project, highlighting recent train accidents and safety concerns. “You are sanctioning ₹ 1.08 lakh crore for Vande Bharat Bullet Train Project. In Balasore last year, three trains collided as there was no ‘kavach’; last week, in the train accident there was no ‘kavach’. With the current level of funding, it will take 50 years for ‘kavach’ to be installed on all trains. ‘Kavach’ is a Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that provides automated train protection as well as collision prevention capabilities for the trains.
“Our aviation sector has become a domestic hazard hub, with newly constructed airports having canopies falling and the Pragati Maidan tunnel flooding. This is what happens when infrastructure is poorly planned and rushed for photo opportunities by the supreme leader,” she said.
