Strongly condemning the expulsion of TMC leader Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha, CPIML-Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya on Sunday demanded “immediate restoration” of her membership.

In a statement issued here, Bhattacharya alleged that the action against Moitra was a “brazen attempt to silence the Opposition” by the Narendra Modi government at the
Centre.

Bhattacharya dubbed the expulsion of Moitra as “yet another instance of the ruling BJP’s vindictive attitude, which has earlier been reflected in the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and arrest of AAP MP Sanjay Singh”.

“A tearing hurry was shown in expelling Mahua Moitra even as BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri remains unscathed despite the sectarian slurs he uttered against BSP MP Danish Ali on the floor of the House”, said the Left leader.

He also claimed that the BJP had “mandated” the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee to indict Moitra on an “extremely weak complaint” of its Jharkhand MP Nishikant Dubey who was a “habitual offender” in terms of making “derogatory and misogynistic remarks.”

JDU president Rajiv Ranjan Singh “Lalan” on Saturday alleged that the treatment meted out to Trinamul Congress leader Mahua Moitra in Parliament was against the principles of natural justice.

Talking to reporters here a day after Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha, Lalan, who is himself a member of the Lower House, rued that she was not given an opportunity of hearing.

“Mahua Moitra was not given an opportunity of hearing. Neither before the Ethics Committee nor on the floor of the House. It was against the principles of natural justice,” he said.