Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra is widely known for her fiery criticism of the ruling dispensation. On Monday, when this lawmaker from West Bengal’s Krishnanagar started her address in Lok Sabha, she faced a swift backlash from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and applause on social media. 

Railing against a former chief justice of India who went on to become an MP in Rajya Sabha, Moitra said, “the sacred cow that was the judiciary is no longer sacred.”

“It stopped being sacred the day a sitting chief justice of this country was accused of sexual harassment, presided over his own trial, cleared himself and then proceeded to accept a nomination to the Upper House within three months of retirement replete with Z+ security cover,” she said.

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Although Moitra didn’t name names, BJP MP and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal swiftly termed her comments against the former CJI as “shameful”. Two BJP MPs — Nishikant Dubey and PP Chowdhary, moved a privilege notice against her over her remarks against the former CJI. 

In her strong-worded speech, she accused the ruling dispensation of making “hate and bigotry” a part of its narrative and alleged that the judiciary and the media have also “failed” the country.

The Trinamool MP went on to allege that the country was facing an “undeclared emergency” and accused the government of dubbing protesting voices, be it students, terrorists or the women of Shaheen Bagh, as “terrorists.”

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She accused the government of inflicting “untold misery” on the tens of thousands of migrant labourers who were forced to walk back home when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown with just a few hours of notice. Moitra also appealed the BJP-led central government to repeal the three agri laws, against which thousands of farmers are protesting at Delhi’s border areas.

Meanwhile, Twitter users were quick to applaud Moitra for her fiery speech.

“That woman was on fire,” wrote a user.

“Moitra 

had the absolute courage to stand on the floor of the Parliament and state that India is indeed in a state of undeclared emergency; with the current #ModiGovt using all its means to silence the voices of dissent in the country!” wrote another user.

“The best part about her speech is the expressions of the listener. They know she’s speaking the truth. Hope this speech is translated into several languages,” tweeted Bollywood actor Richa Chadha.

“What a firebrand you are @MahuaMoitra,” tweeted actor Shruti Seth.

“When she speaks, the Indian parliament trembles,” wrote a Twitter user.

“Full power to you @MahuaMoitra Brilliantly worded, brave and particularly timely speech about why in today’s India, nothing can be above the law, especially the law itself, which in our case is a highly compromised judicial system,” tweeted actor Siddharth.

With the polls in West Bengal just around the corner, many remained the Congress members, applauding Moitra, that TMC is its “main opposition” in the state. 

Meanwhile, a user pointed towards her party’s alleged “violent history” and the “general brand of politics” pursued by it.