TMC MP Mahua Moitra Attacks Ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Creates Ruckus in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: During the debate on the motion of thanks on President's address, the Trinamool Congress member Mahua Moitra made critical remarks against former Chief Justice of India and currently Rajya Sabha member, Ranjan Gogoi.

The 45-year-old MP from West Bengal's Krishna Nagar made the reference to the former Chief Justice against whom a sexual harassment case was registered based on an allegation.

However, her remarks on the ex-CJI did not go well at the house as treasury benches accused her of violating parliamentary rules and disrespecting the chair.

The treasury benches further added that it is a direct attack on the dignity of the President who selects a person for the post of Chief Justice of India.

"The sacred cow that was the judiciary is no longer sacred," Moitra said.

"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 of Parliament within three months of his retirement replete with Z plus security."

"The judiciary stopped being sacred when it squandered the opportunity to guard the founding principles of the Constitution."

Back in April 2019, a case of sexual harassment against the then CJI Ranjan Gogoi was filed, according to which the later made sexual advances on a woman at his residence office on October 10 and October 11, 2018.

The woman had worked as a junior court assistant at the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Gogoi, on the other hand, denied the allegations during a hearing on the same month, saying that he did not "deem it appropriate" to reply to the allegations but claimed they were part of a "bigger plot", possibly one to "deactivate the office of the CJI".

Soon after Moitra took the name of the Chief Justice, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal raised objections and termed her comments against the former Chief Justice as "shameful".

In her speech, Moitra repeatedly used terms like cowardice to slam the government for "hiding behind" power and authority and alleged that it has made India a "virtual police state" by charging critical voices with sedition.

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