Kolkata, 10 September (H.S.): The All India Matua Federation’s legal cell has lodged an FIR against Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra at Harinagar police station in Nadia district, alleging that she made derogatory remarks against the Matua community during a recent public meeting in Krishnanagar.

The FIR, filed late Tuesday evening, was spearheaded by TMC Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur, who heads the federation’s legal cell. The federation warned that if no appropriate action is taken, they will pursue the matter in court.

Last week, the federation had written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanding that Moitra issue a public apology for her “anti-Matua” statement. Earlier, it had also released a statement condemning Moitra’s comments. However, the Krishnanagar MP neither withdrew her remarks nor apologized, prompting legal action.

In her speech, Moitra reportedly said, “What kind of politics is this where you stay with the Trinamool Congress throughout the year, but during elections, you suddenly act like traditional Hindus? When you need jobs, development, roads, you come to Mamata Banerjee. To avail allowances, you come wearing wooden bangles. But what happens during elections? I know my speech will go viral, but I don’t care.”

The Matua community, comprising a backward-class Hindu group with refugee roots from Bangladesh, is largely concentrated in Nadia and North 24 Parganas districts. Since 2019, it has emerged as a key vote bank for the BJP. Even during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, when the TMC registered a sweeping victory across West Bengal, the BJP retained the Matua-dominated Bangaon and Ranaghat constituencies.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh