Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has hit back at the BJP saying she can not be bullied and silenced. “You cannot bully me into silence with threats of privilege motions. You cannot abuse high office, retire, & then hide under cover of Article 121. Sexual harassment is not discharge of duties,” she wrote on Twitter, sharing a clip of Article 121 with her tweet.
Moitra’s response came just after BJP MP P P Chowdhary moved a breach of privilege notice against the TMC MP more than her remarks against a former Chief Justice of India when speaking on Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in Lok Sabha on Monday.
You can not bully me into silence with threats of privilege motions
You can not abuse higher workplace, retire, & then hide beneath cover of Article 121
Sexual harassment is not “discharge of duties” pic.twitter.com/r93Y4zdxGo
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) February 10, 2021
P P Chowdhary told PTI that Moitra had cast some aspersions regarding the conduct of a judge and the query is whether or not the conduct of a judge can be discussed on the floor of the House or not.
He referred to Article 121 that says no allegation can be levelled against a sitting or ex-judge. Moitra had raised the matter of sexual harassment allegation against a former CJI.
While BJP MP Lakhu Ram Meghwal termed her statement as shameful, she stated that there is no location for misogyny in Parliament.
“No – it is not “shameful” to speak truth backed by affidavit signed by victim & offered to 22 SC judges detailing sexual harassment by ex-CJI… No location for misogyny in parliament,” Moitra tweeted today with a video of Meghwal.
No – it is not “shameful” to speak truth backed by affidavit signed by victim & offered to 22 SC judges detailing sexual harassment by ex-CJI
No location for misogyny in parliament pic.twitter.com/N8PctSWaON— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) February 11, 2021
Another BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had also demanded that Moitra’s membership be terminated. N K Premchandran, who was in the Chair, stated that the notice is beneath consideration of the Lok Sabha Speaker.
Moitra had earlier stated that it would be a privilege for her if a breach of privilege motion is initiated against her. “It would be a privilege indeed if a breach of privilege motion is initiated against me for speaking the truth during India’s darkest hour”, she stated.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra has been vital of the government’s policies and has been one of the most vocal speakers in the House.