Calcutta High Court Directs West Bengal Government to Provide Police Protection to TMC MP Mahua Moitra
Stepping into a heated political row, the Calcutta High Court has issued a significant directive ordering the West Bengal state government to provide armed police protection to Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra during her visits to her parliamentary constituency. The ruling comes in the wake of escalating security concerns and active protests faced by the high-profile parliamentarian within her local turf.
High Court Directs 30-Day Security Cover
Presiding over the case on Tuesday, Justice Saugata Bhattacharya directed the state administration to deploy at least two police personnel to accompany Mahua Moitra whenever she enters her parliamentary constituency. The court has granted this protective security cover for an initial period of 30 days, scheduling the next formal hearing in the matter for October 1.
Emphasizing the foundational duties of the state administration, the bench observed that it is the absolute responsibility of the government to ensure that elected representatives can discharge their public duties safely and without fear of harassment. The court sternly remarked that obstructing an MP from entering their constituency, or subjecting them to physical assault and public mistreatment, is entirely unacceptable in a democratic framework. Under the court's directives, Moitra is required to provide advance intimation of her constituency visit dates to local police authorities so that adequate security arrangements can be seamlessly deployed.
Allegations of Assault and Political Harassment
The High Court intervention followed a writ petition filed by Mahua Moitra, wherein she alleged systematic political harassment and orchestrated attempts to disrupt her public engagements. Representing the MP, senior advocate and lawmaker Kalyan Banerjee argued before the bench that his client faced continuous hostility during constituency visits, citing instances where eggs, potatoes, and stones were hurled at her vehicle, while local police allegedly failed to provide adequate security.
The petitioner maintained that partisan elements routinely orchestrated protests and gheraos to prevent her from engaging with local citizens and executing developmental work. Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Justice Bhattacharya stressed that the administration must deal with such aggressive disruptions strictly to uphold the constitutional rights of elected representatives.
Fresh Protests and Car Surrounding in Nadia District
Underscoring the volatile ground realities, fresh protests erupted against the TMC leader in Nadia district's Chapra area on the very same day as the court hearing. As Mahua Moitra was departing after attending a local party workers' conference, agitators surrounded her convoy, waved black flags, and raised vociferous "Go back" slogans, highlighting the persistent political tensions on the ground that prompted the judiciary to intervene.
