Parliament Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju Will Face Action, Not Me: Mahua Moitra
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has pushed back against Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, asserting that it is he who should face consequences for his comments. “All media outlets reporting that the minister warned me should note—he will face action for threatening me. His remarks will be deleted, not mine,” Moitra said.
In another statement, while speaking to news agency PTI, the Krishnanagar MP said what she “was an absolute test of how the BJP government and the ruling party have destroyed the Constitution by a thousand cuts, and I explained in great detail using every test of electoral accountability which the political executive has failed, and I didn’t say anything if you have listen to my speech. I think it is the BJP’s own guilty conscience that is causing it to react in that way.”
The controversy erupted during a Lok Sabha debate on the Constitution’s 75th anniversary when Moitra referenced the 2014 death of Judge B.H. Loya, calling it untimely. Her remarks triggered uproar, with BJP members accusing her of revisiting a matter the Supreme Court had deemed resolved.
And btw all the media outlets who are reporting that Parliament Affairs Minster warned me – it is he who will face action for threatening me! His remarks to be deleted- not mine!
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) December 13, 2024
Union Minister Rijiju criticised Moitra, calling her remarks “serious” and warned of “appropriate parliamentary action.” The Supreme Court, in its previous ruling, had concluded that Loya’s death was due to natural causes, rejecting allegations of foul play.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey also took exception to Moitra’s critique of former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, citing her disapproval of his hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Ganapati festival.
The debate descended into chaos, forcing two brief adjournments. Rijiju accused Moitra of setting a “dangerous precedent” and insisted the matter would not be overlooked. Speaker Om Birla assured the House that he would review the records.
Judge Loya’s death had sparked significant controversy due to media allegations of foul play while he was presiding over a politically sensitive case. However, the apex court dismissed these claims in its 2018 ruling, stating there was no basis for the accusations.
