Mahua Moitra’s Circuit House Row Escalates: What Happened and Why Shashi Tharoor Backed Her

Mahua Moitra’s Late-Night Circuit House Row: Eviction Claim, Crowd Outside and Tharoor’s Backing

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has alleged that she was asked to vacate the Nadia Circuit House in Krishnanagar late at night, hours after checking in and being provided dinner. Moitra, the MP from Krishnanagar, has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking intervention, saying the incident raised serious questions about the security of women parliamentarians.

What Happened at the Circuit House?

Moitra said she arrived at the Circuit House around 6.15 pm on Friday after a Parliament session and was allotted her usual room. According to her account, the room had been prepared and she was served tea at around 7 pm and dinner at 9.20 pm.

At 9.47 pm, she said, the additional district magistrate of Nadia called and asked her to vacate the premises. When she questioned the reason, Moitra said she was told that the instruction had “come from the top”.

Later, at around 10.52 pm, she received a WhatsApp message from the district administration citing an order that said the Circuit House would be unavailable from the evening of August 14 due to annual maintenance, upkeep and cleaning.

The order reportedly exempted reservations confirmed before August 13.

Moitra questioned why she had been permitted to check in and served meals if the facility was already subject to restrictions. She also raised concerns over being asked to leave late at night rather than being informed before her arrival.

Crowd Gathered Outside

Moitra alleged that a crowd assembled outside the Circuit House around 11 pm after she refused to leave and raised “Jai Shree Ram” slogans.

She said the situation was particularly concerning because she was staying alone. She also pointed out that the Circuit House is located opposite the residences of the district magistrate and superintendent of police.

Moitra Seeks Om Birla’s Intervention

In her letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Moitra argued that MPs should have access to Circuit House accommodation when visiting their constituencies. She said asking a woman MP staying alone to leave government accommodation late at night posed a serious security concern. She urged Birla to intervene and ensure the dignity and safety of women parliamentarians.

Moitra also referred to the Women’s Reservation Bill, saying greater representation of women in Parliament would have little meaning if elected women representatives could not be assured basic protection.

Shashi Tharoor Backs Moitra

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor came out in support of Moitra, arguing that the government’s responsibility should be to protect her if a crowd was allegedly threatening her, rather than asking her to leave government accommodation.

His comments added to the political debate surrounding the incident, with questions now being raised over the administration’s handling of the late-night accommodation dispute and the security of the MP.