Mahua Moitra writes to Lok Sabha Speaker over bid to evict her from Circuit House

The Krishnanagar MP sought Birla's intervention, saying the episode raised questions about the safety and dignity of women parliamentarians. She also indicated that she could approach court over the alleged harassment.

In Short

• She says officials served dinner before suddenly asking her to vacate
• She says the episode raises questions about safety and dignity of women
• Moitra alleges a crowd gathered outside the premises shouting slogans

TMC MP Mahua Moitra has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla alleging that the Nadia district administration tried to force her out of a Circuit House in Krishnanagar late at night after initially allotting her a room.

The Krishnanagar MP sought Birla’s intervention, saying the episode raised questions about the safety and dignity of women parliamentarians. She also indicated that she could approach court over the alleged harassment.

Moitra said she checked into the Circuit House around 6.15 pm on Friday and was shown to her usual room. Tea and dinner were served there, she said.

According to her letter, an additional district magistrate called her at 9.47 pm and asked her to vacate the premises, saying the instruction had “come from the top”.

Moitra said she later received a WhatsApp message at 10.52 pm containing an order stating that the circuit house would remain unavailable from the evening of August 14 for maintenance and cleaning, while reservations confirmed before August 13 would be exempt.

She questioned why she had been given a prepared room and served food if the restriction was already in place, and why she was asked to leave only late at night.

Moitra further alleged that around 11 pm, a crowd gathered outside the Circuit House and shouted “Jai Shree Ram” slogans after she refused to vacate.

She described the situation as threatening and said the Circuit House, located opposite the residences of the district magistrate and superintendent of police, should have been a secure zone.

There was no immediate official response from the Nadia district administration to her allegations.

In her letter to Birla, Moitra said MPs were entitled to accommodation in circuit houses while visiting their constituencies and argued that asking a woman MP staying alone to leave at night raised serious security concerns.

She urged the Speaker to intervene and “ensure the dignity of women parliamentarians across the country”.

Moitra also invoked the Women’s Reservation Bill, arguing that efforts to bring more women into Parliament would mean little if sitting women MPs could not be assured basic protection.

Earlier, Moitra posted a video on social media saying she would not back down and referred to court observations relating to security for TMC leaders facing protests and attacks.

She said she was considering moving a privilege motion in the Lok Sabha and could also approach the Calcutta High Court.

The episode triggered political reactions, with TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee accusing the Suvendu Adhikari government of using state power to intimidate a woman MP.

Congress leader Pawan Khera and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also criticised the incident.

At the centre of the row is Moitra’s claim that she was allowed to check into the Circuit House, served food and then asked to leave late at night, even as a crowd gathered outside the premises.

- Ends