In the motion of thanks on the President’s address TMC MP, Mahua Moitra who represents Krishnagar constituency spoke what many feel but dare not articulate because of the oppressive political climate today. In a fiery diatribe, Moitra silenced the cacophony that sought to shut her down. She pointed out to the Speaker that she was making her maiden speech and cannot therefore be disrupted. Moitra brazenly warned of the consequences that awaited the country as it rapidly inclined towards fascism.
Mahua Moitra who was formerly an investment banker with the American multinational investment bank JP Morgan had quit her job in London and returned to India in 2009. After a brief stint with the Congress she shifted to the TMC and was its spokesperson. She won the 2019 elections against the BJP candidate Kalyan Chaubey. Moitra has caught the attention of the entire nation and proved that words have the power to touch people’s hearts and minds. She pointed at the growing xenophobia that is tearing the national fabric apart. Her choice of words is extraordinary. By referring to the BJP’s agenda as ‘a lust to divide and not a desire to unite,’ Moitra has touched a raw chord which will not be missed by the cheerleaders of the saffron party.
The Krishnangar MP listed out the cases of lynching and atrocities on Muslims and Dalits since 2014 and said India is too diverse a country to have just one religion or a single slogan as a symbol of patriotism. She touched on the media climate in the country and pointed out that news media organisations are directly or indirectly controlled by the ruling government. Pointing further that the just concluded election was fought on social media platforms and that fake news was spread to counter opposition parties, Moitra rued that farmers’ distress and other critical issues were left unattended and that the Government was peddling lies on several fronts.
Moitra also took a dig at the Government’s control over the Election Commission and the systematic quelling of dissenting voices even as she emphasized that national security has become an obsession under the BJP Government, so much so that even the success of the Balakot strike was appropriated by the BJP. Referring to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB)as attempts to redefine the citizens of India, Moitra says these are sinister designs to polarise the citizenry.
Clearly, there is need for some plain-speaking in Parliament which is the temple of democracy. Moitra has rightly stated, “If not in parliament then where,” would an MP speak.
