TMC’s Saugata Roy writes to LS Speaker over attack on Mahua Moitra

I have written to the Speaker to ensure the safety of MPs in their own constituencies. I hope the Speaker takes action — Saugata Roy, TMC leader

Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Saugata Roy on Thursday said he has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking his intervention to ensure the safety of members of Parliament, after party MP Mahua Moitra was allegedly attacked during a visit to her constituency in West Bengal’s Nadia district.

Addressing a press conference here, Roy alleged that Moitra came under attack when she visited her constituency, but refused to leave the area immediately and stayed on until the situation eased.

“She immediately reported the matter to the director general of police, but the police remained silent spectators,” Roy alleged.

He said he wrote to the speaker on Thursday, urging him to take steps to ensure the safety of MPs in their own constituencies. “I have written to the speaker to ensure the safety of MPs in their own constituencies. I hope the speaker takes action,” he said. The veteran TMC leader said he tried to speak to Birla over the phone on Wednesday but could not get through. Instead, he said, he spoke to a Lok Sabha official attached to the speaker’s office.

Roy further said he had recently written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, expressing concern over alleged attacks on TMC workers in West Bengal.

Moitra alleged on Wednesday that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers hurled eggs at her during a protest outside TMC MLA Alifa Ahmed’s residence in Nadia district.

Moitra had gone to Palashi in Kaliganj to attend a TMC meeting at Ahmed’s residence when a group of protesters allegedly gathered outside and shouted slogans of “go back” and “chor”. The protesters also allegedly hurled eggs at her.