Mahua Moitra says Kiren Riju threatened her, complains to Inter-Parliamentary Union

On Friday, December 13, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra accused Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Ridge of threatening her in the Lok Sabha and said she had lodged a complaint with the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The IPU is an international body that works to promote peace and protect members of parliament around the world.

Mahua took to social media to allege gender-based harassment and intimidation. She wrote on X, “Kiren Riju is openly threatening me in the Lok Sabha today in total violation of parliamentary rules and procedures. @ombirlakota says he will get Ridge’s words removed, but no action yet. Written to the Inter-Parliamentary Union against this repeated gender-based harassment and intimidation.”

She alleged that despite assurances from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to remove Kiren’s remarks, no action was taken.

The incident took place during a debate on 75 years of the Indian Constitution, where Mahua slammed the BJP for undermining constitutional principles and institutions. In her speech, she mentioned the death of judge B. Kh. Loya in 2014, which became the subject of speculation after media reports of foul play while he was hearing a politically sensitive case.

“The Honorable Minister of Defense in his speech this morning mentioned the courage of the late judge Kh. R. Hanna to dissent in 1976. Allow me to remind everyone that after 1976, Justice H. R. Khanna lived for 32 years under mostly Congress regime. Long enough to write his autobiography, which the minister quoted. Unlike poor Justice Loya who rests in peace long before his time,” Mahua said.

Reacting to her remarks, Kiren Riju said that she was re-opening the issue which had already been decided by the Supreme Court. He warned her of parliamentary consequences and said: “We will take appropriate parliamentary action. You cannot escape. You are setting a very wrong precedent.”

This caused outrage from opposition MPs, who accused Kiren Rijija of intimidating a female parliamentarian in violation of parliamentary norms. The meeting was postponed twice due to the outbreak.

After adjournment, Speaker Om Birla asked Mahua Moitra to verify her statements and expressed concern over Kiren Riju’s remarks. After that, opposition leaders, including Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress and K. K. Venugopal of the Congress, criticized Kiren Riju’s speech. They argued that proper parliamentary procedures should have been followed to address concerns about Mahua’s speech. Venugopal called on Om Birla to intervene, saying the minister had intimidated a woman member instead of maintaining order, and called for either an apology or the removal of Kiren Ridge’s comments.

KC Venugopal addressed the speaker saying, “You are the custodian. You have the power to remove, remove… The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs has taken over and taken full custody of the House and he has actually threatened a woman member.”