'I faced them as a freedom fighter': Mahua Moitra after eggs hurled at her car in Bengal

Mahua Moitra's return to her Krishnanagar constituency on Wednesday was marked by protests, black flags, and eggs being hurled at her car, reviving a controversy that had already reached the Supreme Court over the Trinamool Congress MP's concerns about attacks during public visits.

Moitra had gone to attend a political meeting in West Bengal's Nadia district when BJP workers and supporters allegedly gathered near the venue, raising ‘go back’ slogans and waving black flags. 

The protest subsequently escalated into a confrontation between TMC and BJP supporters, during which eggs were thrown at Moitra's vehicle.

The incident also allowed Moitra to revisit remarks made by Supreme Court Justice Dipankar Datta during an earlier hearing concerning her request for protection.

Taking to X after the incident, Moitra directly addressed Justice Datta in a sarcastic post.

‘Big shout out to Hon’ble Justice Dipankar Datta! MiLord - I came to my constituency for a mtng informing @WBPolice & BJP workers with their help pelted eggs on me. True to your advice I faced them as a freedom fighter faced bullets,’ she wrote.

In a video message, Moitra reiterated that she had informed the police before attending the meeting and alleged that the eggs were thrown at her in the presence of police personnel.

The latest confrontation comes against the backdrop of repeated incidents involving Moitra during visits to her constituency.

She had earlier approached the courts seeking protection, saying that she faced threats and egg-pelting during her public engagements.

The issue had reached the Supreme Court in August when Moitra challenged a direction requiring her to appear physically before an investigating officer in a case concerning an alleged provocative social media post.

Her lawyer argued that she had no objection to cooperating with the investigation but sought permission to appear virtually, citing concerns over her safety and the possibility of another attack.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu declined to entertain the plea.

During the hearing, Justice Datta questioned why Moitra, as a Member of Parliament who had entered politics, should fear eggs being thrown at her.

He referred to the sacrifices of freedom fighters, saying they had taken bullets on their chests.

Following the court's observations, Moitra's counsel sought permission to withdraw the petition, which was subsequently dismissed as withdrawn.

The courtroom exchange assumed greater significance after the latest incident in Nadia.

The Calcutta High Court had also considered Moitra's security concerns.

In September, the court directed West Bengal Police to deploy two personnel with the MP whenever she entered her constituency for 30 days, amid allegations of mob harassment.

The court had questioned what the situation would mean for other political figures if an elected MP faced egg-pelting and harassment while entering her constituency.

Moitra's latest remarks therefore put the focus back on the question of security for elected representatives during political engagements, while the competing TMC and BJP supporters' confrontation adds another layer to the continuing political tensions in the constituency.

For Moitra, however, the episode was also a direct callback to the Supreme Court exchange.

After facing another egg attack, she invoked Justice Datta's earlier reference to freedom fighters, saying she had followed the advice and faced the protesters herself.