A day after Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra referred to her fellow MP Kalyan Banerjee as a “pig” during a podcast with India Today, Banerjee hit back, calling her words “dehumanising”. Hours later, the Srerampur MP also announced his resignation as the party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha, news agency PTI reported.
In a detailed post on X, Banerjee said, “I have taken note of the recent personal remarks made by Mahua Moitra in a public podcast. Her choice of words, including the use of dehumanising language such as comparing a fellow MP to a ‘pig’, is not only unfortunate but reflects a deep disregard for basic norms of civil discourse.”
Mahua Moitra’s Controversial Comments
Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra, while reacting to Kalyan Banerjee’s remarks on her marriage with Pinaki Mishra, had said, “You don’t wrestle with a pig. Because the pig likes it and you get dirty. There are deeply misogynistic, sexually frustrated, depraved men in India and they have their representation in parliament across all parties.”
In response, Banerjee stated, “Those who think invective can replace substance should take a hard look at the kind of politics they are practising – and the hollowness it exposes. When a public representative stoops to name-calling and coarse innuendo, it reflects not strength, but insecurity.”
Resignation and Possible Reconsideration
“Let me state this clearly: What I did speak about were questions of public accountability and personal conduct, which every public figure must be prepared to face — man or woman. If those facts are inconvenient or uncomfortable, it does not justify branding legitimate criticism as ‘misogyny’ to escape scrutiny.
Labeling a male colleague as ‘sexually frustrated’ isn’t boldness — it’s outright abuse. If such language were directed at a woman, there would be nationwide outrage, and rightly so. But when a man is the target, it’s dismissed or even applauded. Let’s be clear: abuse is abuse — regardless of gender. Such remarks are not just indecent, they reinforce a toxic double standard where men are expected to silently endure what would never be tolerated if roles were reversed,” Banerjee added.
Following his statement, Banerjee announced, “I have quit as the party’s chief whip in Lok Sabha, as ‘didi’ (West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee) said during the virtual meeting that there is a lack of coordination among party MPs. So the blame is on me. Hence, I have decided to step down,” PTI quoted him as saying.
However, according to sources, Banerjee may reconsider his resignation. He has reportedly reached out to the party’s top leadership and is expected to meet TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee during the INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi on August 7.