Centre moves privilege motion, seeks removal of Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra for remarks over ex-CJI
"The sacred cow that was the judiciary is no longer sacred," Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra had said in Lok Sabha referring to a former CJI.
The BJP on Wednesday initiated a privilege motion against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra over her remarks in the Lok Sabha concerning a former Chief Justice of India. While the TMC MP's remarks were expunged from the record, the BJP is now seeking her dismissal from the Parliament.
PP Chowdhary, BJP MP from Rajasthan's Pali and a former Minister of State for Law moved the privilege motion against Mahua Moitra. The request was followed in Lok Sabha by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey demanding the cancellation of Moitra's membership of the Lower House.
On Monday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi had condemned Mahua Moitra's remarks but did not express any intention of moving a privilege motion against her. Reports suggest that the government reconsidered its stance after Moitra posted clips of her speech in the Lok Sabha on social media.
While addressing the Lok Sabha during the discussion on Motion of Thanks to the President, Mahua Moitra had mentioned allegations of sexual misconduct being levelled against a former Chief Justice of India.
"The sacred cow that was the judiciary is no longer sacred. It stopped being sacred day a sitting CJI was accused of sexual harassment, presided over own trial, cleared himself & accepted a nomination to Upper House within 3 months of retirement replete with Z+ security cover," Mahua Moitra said.
The sacred cow that was the judiciary is no longer sacred. It stopped being sacred day a sitting CJI was accused of sexual harassment, presided over own trial, cleared himself & accepted a nomination to Upper House within 3 months of retirement replete with Z+ security cover pic.twitter.com/ODFn2pd2Z1 — Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) February 9, 2021
In her defence, Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy told the Parliamentary Affairs Minister that Moitra mentioned the allegations but did not identify the individual by name. Roy also asserted that Mahua Moitra's remarks referred to a former CJI and not a sitting CJI.
"Somebody else accused him, I did not," TMC MP from Krishnanagar, Mahua Moitra had defended her remarks in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.