Mahua Moitra's Controversial Remarks on Judge Loya Spark Uproar in Lok Sabha

Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra ignited a storm in the Lok Sabha on Friday with her provocative remarks regarding the death of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court judge BH Loya. Moitra referred to the judge as someone "who is resting in peace long before his time," a comment that rekindled debates over the contentious circumstances surrounding Loya's death in 2014.

Judge Loya’s death, which occurred while he was presiding over a politically sensitive case, had previously sparked significant controversy following media reports suggesting foul play. The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court, which ruled that there was no merit in the allegations of foul play, concluding that Loya died of natural causes.

In her speech, Moitra criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly targeting institutions and opposition leaders in an attempt to silence dissenting voices. She contrasted the courage of the late Justice HR Khanna, who famously dissented during the Emergency of 1976, with the untimely death of Judge Loya. “Honourable Defence Minister in a speech this morning mentioned the courage of the late Justice HR Khanna to dissent in 1976. May I remind everyone, Justice HR Khanna lived for 32 years after 1976 under a largely Congress regime. Long enough to write his autobiography which the minister quoted from. Unlike poor Justice Loya, who is resting in peace long before his time,” Moitra remarked.

The remarks drew immediate backlash from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who accused Moitra of reopening a matter that had already been settled by the Supreme Court. Rijiju warned of "appropriate parliamentary action," asserting that Moitra’s comments were serious and unwarranted. The statement caused significant disruption in the House, leading to two brief adjournments. The debate resumed only after Speaker Om Birla intervened, asking Moitra to authenticate her remarks. The Speaker also assured opposition members that he would address concerns about Rijiju’s “threatening” language directed at a woman MP.

BJP member Nishikant Dubey raised the issue after Moitra concluded her speech, accusing her of making insinuations about Loya's death and criticizing former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud for hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Ganapati festival.

In response, Moitra took to the microblogging platform X, asserting that Rijiju, rather than her, should face action for threatening her. “Parliament Affairs Minister warned me – it is he who will face action for threatening me! His remarks to be deleted – not mine!” she wrote.

Rijiju, however, remained firm in his stance, insisting that the case regarding Judge Loya's death was resolved and that Moitra's remarks were inappropriate. He reiterated that there was no question of any interference or conspiracy in the judge’s death and emphasized the gravity of the issue. “We will take appropriate parliamentary action. You cannot escape. You are setting a very wrong precedent,” he said.

When the House reconvened, senior opposition members, including TMC’s Saugata Roy and Congress’s K.C. Venugopal, expressed their dissatisfaction with Rijiju’s comments. Roy accused Rijiju of making a “brazen effort” to threaten Moitra, while Venugopal condemned the minister for failing to maintain order in the House and instead threatening a woman MP. Venugopal called for an apology from Rijiju or for his remarks to be expunged.

Speaker Om Birla intervened, urging members to avoid personal attacks and focus on constructive debate. He assured the House that he had asked Moitra to verify her comments and would review Rijiju’s remarks to determine if they should be expunged from the record.

The episode highlighted ongoing tensions in the Lok Sabha, with political parties clashing over issues of dissent, freedom of speech, and the handling of sensitive matters in the public sphere. The controversy surrounding Judge Loya’s death continues to be a flashpoint in Indian politics, and Moitra’s comments are likely to further fuel the ongoing debate.