Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday alleged that eggs were thrown at her during a visit to her Lok Sabha constituency, Krishnanagar, accusing local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders of being behind the incident. She added that the incident unfolded in the presence of the police.
Moitra claimed the incident took place as she was leaving a programme in Tehatta. According to the MP, between seven and 10 BJP functionaries, including the local mandal president and panchayat samiti president and vice-president, gathered at the venue and threw eggs at her.
She alleged that several police personnel were present during the incident but did not intervene against the protesters. Instead, she claimed, officers forcibly put her into her car. “According to the court’s direction, four police personnel were with me. During the attack, more police arrived, but they forcibly put me into the car instead of controlling the attackers. This is what is happening in West Bengal! The High Court says this should not happen, and yet…” Moitra said in a video message.
The Krishnanagar MP also referred to an earlier observation by Supreme Court judge Justice Dipankar Datta while challenging the manner in which her concerns over the alleged egg attack were handled. Addressing the judge, Mahua Moitra said, “Hello, Hon’ble Justice Dipankar Datta. Look, as per your words, I am standing in the face of egg-pelting like bullets. Thank you.”
Mahua Moitra had approached the Supreme Court in August in connection with a separate case in which she had been directed to appear before the police. Citing an earlier egg-pelting incident in Nadia’s Kaliganj, she had expressed concerns about facing similar treatment and sought permission to appear through video conference. The court dismissed her plea. Justice Datta had remarked: “Freedom fighters took bullets to their chests, and you are coming to court with this case?”
Following Wednesday’s alleged incident, Mahua Moitra posted another message thanking the judge sarcastically. “I sincerely thank Hon’ble Justice Dipankar Datta. My Lord, I had informed the West Bengal Police before coming to my constituency. And with their assistance, BJP workers are throwing eggs at me. As per your advice, I have faced them, just as freedom fighters faced bullets.”
In a subsequent video, Mahua Moitra pointed towards protesters surrounding her vehicle and alleged that BJP functionaries, rather than members of the general public, had gathered outside the venue. “Justice Dipankar Datta, my Lord, I am a Member of Parliament of independent India, and I am also a freedom fighter! As I was leaving, BJP office-bearers, not ordinary members of the public, surrounded my meeting and pelted eggs at me. Thank you for protecting our constitutional rights, my Lord.”
The Calcutta High Court had earlier intervened over a series of alleged egg-pelting incidents and instances of mob harassment targeting political figures, directing the West Bengal government and police to take measures to prevent such attacks. In September, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya ordered the deployment of two police personnel to accompany TMC MP Mahua Moitra during her visits to Krishnanagar for 30 days, citing concerns over egg-pelting and other forms of alleged harassment. The court also directed the state to “deal with this menace with an iron hand”, stressing the need to ensure that elected representatives can carry out their duties in their constituencies without obstruction or intimidation.
