Mahua Moitra Stands Firm on Matua Community Remarks Amid Backlash in West Bengal
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra refuses to back down from her controversial comments on the Matua community, even as pressure mounts from all sides. The firebrand politician from Krishnanagar in West Bengal’s Nadia district doubled down on her stance during a media chat on Friday, September 12, sparking fresh debates in the state’s heated political scene.
It all started earlier this month at a public rally in Krishnanagar. Moitra took a sharp dig at Matua voters—a Hindu backward class group that fled to West Bengal from Bangladesh and now lives in areas like Nadia and North 24 Parganas. She called out what she sees as their flip-flopping loyalty, especially towards the BJP during elections.
In her fiery speech, Moitra said, "What kind of approach is this? You’re with Trinamool Congress all year round, but act like traditional Hindus before elections. When you need jobs, development schemes, or roads, you turn to Mamata Banerjee. You show up for state allowances wearing wooden bracelets. Then what happens? I know my video will go viral—I really don’t care."
The remarks quickly ignited a storm. The Matua community, known for its strong presence in BJP strongholds, felt targeted. Both Bangaon in North 24 Parganas and Ranaghat in Nadia—Matua-dominated seats—saw BJP wins in the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha polls, handing defeats to Trinamool candidates.
On Friday, Moitra hit back at critics, accusing the BJP of twisting her words. "They’re misinterpreting everything," she told reporters. "It’s a fact that Trinamool lost Bangaon and Ranaghat in two straight elections, but we never stopped state development projects there. Meanwhile, after losing in West Bengal, the BJP cut central funds for our schemes. That’s exactly what I meant—no more, no less."
The backlash has been intense. This week, the All India Matua Mahasangh’s legal team, led by Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur, lodged an FIR against Moitra at Haringhata Police Station in Nadia. They claim her words hurt community sentiments.
Last week, the group wrote to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, demanding a public apology from Moitra. Before that, they issued a strong statement slamming her "anti-Matua" remarks and called for her to say sorry. With no apology in sight, they’ve now taken legal action.
As the row over Matua community politics rages on, eyes are on how Trinamool handles the internal rift and what it means for West Bengal’s voter dynamics ahead of future polls. Moitra’s bold style has always divided opinions, but this time, it’s testing party loyalties like never before.
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