Nation / Thu, 02 May 2024 The Indian Express

Mahua Moitra: ‘I have eight years of development (in my seat). And I speak up in Parliament. I will continue to do those things in new term’

After her disqualification from Parliament in a cash-for-query case last December, Mahua Moitra, the TMC’s Krishnanagar nominee, is fighting a prestige battle in this election. AdvertisementI moved to the TMC much before 2011, and had no clue about it coming to power in West Bengal. All I can say is that it comes easily to me because I have a very process-oriented mind. The BJP gave 14% of its tickets to women whereas we (the TMC) had 37% women candidates. * So the CBI, ED cases don’t affect you?

After her disqualification from Parliament in a cash-for-query case last December, Mahua Moitra, the TMC’s Krishnanagar nominee, is fighting a prestige battle in this election. In an interview with The Indian Express, she says the disqualification has not dampened her fight, speaks of the case, and claims she will defeat the BJP’s Amrita Roy (belonging to the erstwhile royal family of the area) by over one lakh votes. Excerpts:

* You were first associated with the Congress, but then joined the TMC. Why the transition?

I was idealistic and committed. I came to India (after working abroad) for the Aam Aadmi ka Sipahi programme (of Rahul Gandhi, to identify leaders at the ground level).

I moved to the TMC much before 2011, and had no clue about it coming to power in West Bengal. So, none of my decisions have been decisions of the head but of the spirit and the heart. I think when you follow your heart, then you carry your dedication with you.

I am enjoying it (the campaign and politics). You can’t do it day in and day out (otherwise). Like that day, someone asked me, ‘Mahua, you shake people’s hands, you wear dark glasses, you pick up children… Do you do it for the optics?’ Can one do this for merely the optics day in day out?

Before this, I did the panchayat (worked in the panchayat elections).

* You are the TMC’s Nadia district president and a Lok Sabha candidate… How does it work?

I am the district president, manager and also the campaigner. All I can say is that it comes easily to me because I have a very process-oriented mind. I am a mathematician by training. And this is where I thank my investment banking background.

* The CBI recently raided your homes in Kolkata and Kareempur.

I am not my parents’ daughter for nothing. My mother said, ‘Bring it on’. She sent me a message saying that if they did anything to me, she would file the nomination. First it was the CBI, now it is the ED (Enforcement Directorate). But this is the beauty of it… The ED leaked their FIR in the cash-for-query case to the press but never sent me a copy. In my nomination, I can’t even say there is an FIR because I do not even have a copy.

When the CBI came to my house (in Kolkata), my mother got the staff to pat down CBI officials to see if they had brought anything to plant.

When they came to my Kareempur house, my staff let them in. I was not here. They opened everything… They counted my sarees, all 82 of them… And they literally went through my bathroom, my eye makeup remover. They apparently turned everything upside down. They saw the crockery and cutlery. I was not even there… Good luck to them.

* As per the ED, you accepted expensive gifts such as watches and bags (from businessman Darshan Hiranandani) in lieu of asking questions in Parliament…

Where is the watch? I don’t even wear a watch. When I (travel), one bag goes with me. Why shouldn’t I have a bag? Whose business is it? Would you dare ask this to any male MP? It is very sexist.

Sexism is so prevalent primarily because of the lack of representation in the House. Even in the first phase of the current elections, only 8% of the candidates were women. The BJP gave 14% of its tickets to women whereas we (the TMC) had 37% women candidates. And they are telling us about women’s reservation!

* In 2022, you faced a controversy for your remarks on Maa Kali…

I speak the truth. During Kali Puja or during Durga Puja, we plan whether we eat mutton, fish, chingri(prawn) during navamir bhog (during Durga Puja)… In Gujarat, they plan whether they will eat fafda, vafda. We don’t hold grudges against them. Why are you grudging us? Right or wrong.

I am a Kali worshiper. Maa tells me, aami maach khabo ( I will eat fish). I cook it for Maa. I am not going to give Maa fruit juice.

* How have things changed for you after your suspension from Parliament?

I am wearing this expulsion like a badge of honour. Under this government, democratic and parliamentary democracy has been ruined. It is the first time that an ethics committee (that disqualified her) did something unethical. An ethics committee has no power to expel. If the reason was that I had given my password (that others can access), every single MP gives their password… There were no rules in place. You used brute majority. You didn’t even give the dissent notes. The entire thing was a kangaroo court. It was a farce.

And you have seen in my area. Does anyone even realise that I have been expelled or suspended? Nobody cares. So, when they voted me in, only they have the power to vote me out. They are asking how dare someone else remove their representative from Parliament and for that last session.

* So the CBI, ED cases don’t affect you?

Why are we in this business if we can’t take the pressure? What am I standing up for? This is the greatest democracy in the world and Narendra Modi and his gang of hoods are hell bent on destroying it. I have done nothing (wrong). That man (complainant Jai Anant Dehadrai) has put a complaint to the Lokpal. The Lokpal, which was lying dead without a chairperson, has suddenly woken up. What nonsense is all this?

I couldn’t be bothered. Like I said, we will be judged by how we face this. So I’m very sure that the people of India will see through this, I have faith in democracy…

When it (the expulsion) happened, everyone told me, ‘Aap toh khatam ho gayi (You are finished)’. They wrote my obituary and said she will go to jail. You have to keep your head down and do your work.

* What do you think about your BJP opponent Amrita Roy ?

I think the BJP has lost the plot. I have nothing personal to say against the candidate. I have nothing against her and I wish her well. I will win by a lakh. Over a lakh.

* If you win, how do you see your role evolve in Parliament and in the constituency?

My role will be the same. I am very clear in what I do. I don’t do 20,000 things. I have eight years worth of development (in the constituency). And I speak up in Parliament. I will continue to do those things.

* What do you think the TMC’s overall performance will be?

The Trinamool has done immense amounts of work. We have welfare schemes that have reached the people. And people can see through Modi’s garbage. So, the TMC will do at least as well as we did last time.

* You have a following among women and theLGBTQ+ community. What do you have to say to them?

The TMC has even put promises for the LGBTQ+ community in their manifesto. Abhishek (Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary) supported same sex marriage. I was part of the initiative to strike down Section 377.