KOLKATA: The issue of Mahua Moitra’s expulsion from Lok Sabha had become a rallying point for the INDIA bloc, Trinamool said on Friday. The issue brought back “josh, unity and aggression” to the alliance, which lost momentum because of Congress’s electoral losses in Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh, said TMC.
Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said BJP would now suffer because the issue had prepared the field for an effective opposition alliance.The results would be evident in the next INDIA bloc meeting, Ghosh said.
Speaking to reporters in Kolkata immediately after Moitra’s expulsion, Ghosh said, “After Mahua’s expulsion, Congress and all anti-BJP parties who are democratic, secular and progressive… starting from respected Sonia Gandhi ji, everyone stood by Trinamool Congress today. Trinamool’s protests (in Delhi) today unified the INDIA alliance.” He added: “Trinamool Congress has always been saying this to all anti-BJP parties… that BJP has to be fought against unitedly. Mamata Banerjee has always said this.”
Ghosh said, “Today, the Trinamool Congress protest was amplified by INDIA partners led by Sonia Gandhi. They all pledged together to fight the larger danger the BJP represents. And the results will be evident in the next INDIA meeting.”
The fact that the Moitra issue had been the only glue between Trinamool, Congress and CPM had been evident for some time in Bengal. Pradesh Congress president and MP Adhir Chowdhury had been among the most vocal on the issue. Chowdhury had also written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. On Friday, Chowdhury said, “This was done based on baseless facts and with a sentiment of revenge. This government has insulted women.”
CPM, too, has been equally vocal on the issue. CPM central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said it was a “black day” for Parliament. Describing the action against Moitra as “overactiveness”, he said it was a display of BJP’s use of brute majority in Lok Sabha.
As Birla referred to former Speaker Somnath Chatterjee expelling 10 lawmakers while UPA was in office and drew parallels to it, TMC dismissed it altogether. “This is a completely different context. The MPs then were expelled after being caught accepting cash on camera. Where is the evidence here? Our MP Kalyan Bandyopadhyay articulated the legal points in this case in the Lok Sabha. This is illegal,” Ghosh told reporters.
(With agency inputs)
Watch Mahua is a victim | Mamata Banerjee slams BJP as Mahua Moitra expelled as Lok Sabha MP
Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said BJP would now suffer because the issue had prepared the field for an effective opposition alliance.The results would be evident in the next INDIA bloc meeting, Ghosh said.
Speaking to reporters in Kolkata immediately after Moitra’s expulsion, Ghosh said, “After Mahua’s expulsion, Congress and all anti-BJP parties who are democratic, secular and progressive… starting from respected Sonia Gandhi ji, everyone stood by Trinamool Congress today. Trinamool’s protests (in Delhi) today unified the INDIA alliance.” He added: “Trinamool Congress has always been saying this to all anti-BJP parties… that BJP has to be fought against unitedly. Mamata Banerjee has always said this.”
Ghosh said, “Today, the Trinamool Congress protest was amplified by INDIA partners led by Sonia Gandhi. They all pledged together to fight the larger danger the BJP represents. And the results will be evident in the next INDIA meeting.”
The fact that the Moitra issue had been the only glue between Trinamool, Congress and CPM had been evident for some time in Bengal. Pradesh Congress president and MP Adhir Chowdhury had been among the most vocal on the issue. Chowdhury had also written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. On Friday, Chowdhury said, “This was done based on baseless facts and with a sentiment of revenge. This government has insulted women.”
CPM, too, has been equally vocal on the issue. CPM central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said it was a “black day” for Parliament. Describing the action against Moitra as “overactiveness”, he said it was a display of BJP’s use of brute majority in Lok Sabha.
As Birla referred to former Speaker Somnath Chatterjee expelling 10 lawmakers while UPA was in office and drew parallels to it, TMC dismissed it altogether. “This is a completely different context. The MPs then were expelled after being caught accepting cash on camera. Where is the evidence here? Our MP Kalyan Bandyopadhyay articulated the legal points in this case in the Lok Sabha. This is illegal,” Ghosh told reporters.
(With agency inputs)
Watch Mahua is a victim | Mamata Banerjee slams BJP as Mahua Moitra expelled as Lok Sabha MP