Do I need to be a man to… : Mahua Moitra hits back, says BJP attack reeks of patriarchy

Mahua Moitra, TMC MP, defended herself by challenging “patriarchy” in the attacks made against her on Wednesday after she caused a stir in Parliament by using an insulting phrase. Moitra made her comments at the same time as BJP MP Hema Malini advised the opposition to “suppress their language.”

“BJP is saying how can I use such a word being woman, do I need to be a man to be able to give it back as good as it gets? So there’s patriarchy,” Mahua Moitra said on the controversy about her language in the Lok Sabha.

Moitra said that she would present her side of the story if she was taken to the privileges committee of Parliament. “I’m surprised BJP is teaching us parliamentary etiquette. That representative from Delhi heckled me… I’ll call an apple an apple, not an orange… if they’ll take me to the privileges committee, I’ll put my side of the story,” she said.

The Trinamool MP, who delivered a hard-hitting speech in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday on the Adani Group issue, said BJP had been trying to sweep the matter under the carpet. “For first time, all of us were able to show to people of India what this Adanigate was all about. The BJP has been trying to shove this under the carpet for past 3 years. Glad all Opposition parties came out together. People of India could see the extent of the Adanigate scandal,” she said.

“They should control their tongue and not get over-excited and emotional. Each and every member of Parliament is a respectable person,” BJP MP Hema Malini said on Moitra’s use of offensive language in the Lok Sabha.

The treasury bench asked Rahul Gandhi to present evidence for his “baseless allegations”. Keeping up with the counter-attack, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said Rahul’s remarks should be expunged and sought a privilege motion against him.

“As per Parliament rules, no allegations can be made unless prior notice is given by an MP. A Congress leader (Rahul Gandhi) y’day made baseless allegations. His statement should be expunged and a privilege motion be moved against him, & a notice be served to him,” Joshi said.