Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Aug 18: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has moved a privilege notice before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against three senior officials of the Nadia administration, alleging a breach of parliamentary protocol and contemptuous conduct after she was asked to vacate a Circuit House room late at night on August 14.
Moitra, in a notice submitted under Rule 222 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, named Nadia District Magistrate Srikant Palli, Additional District Magistrate Nirpendra Singh and Nazareth Deputy Collector Anamika Bera. She sought action against the officials and urged the Speaker to ensure that she could discharge her parliamentary duties without intimidation or harassment.
The TMC MP said she had reached the Nadia Circuit House at around 6.15 pm for an overnight stay after informing the Speaker about her visit to the constituency on August 13.
According to Moitra, she was allotted her usual room, which had been prepared for her. Tea was served at around 7 pm and dinner at 9.20 pm.
However, at 9.47 pm, she allegedly received a call from the additional district magistrate asking her to vacate the room. When she questioned the reason, the official reportedly told her that the instruction had come from the district magistrate.
Moitra said she later received a WhatsApp message at 10.52 pm containing an order stating that the Circuit House would remain unavailable from the evening of August 14 because of annual maintenance and cleaning.
The order was dated August 12 and stated that reservations confirmed before August 13 would be exempt from the general suspension.
Questioning the timing, Moitra asked why the administration waited until nearly 10 pm to ask her to leave if the suspension order had already been issued two days earlier.
She also alleged that the officials failed to inform her about the order either when she made the reservation or when she checked into the Circuit House. Instead, she said, she was provided with a prepared room and meals.
Moitra claimed the incident was part of attempts to obstruct her parliamentary responsibilities and appealed to the Lok Sabha Speaker for protection from any further harassment or impediment in carrying out her constitutional duties.