'Lacks Basic Gratitude': In Fresh Jibe, Kalyan Banerjee Regrets Backing Mahua Moitra In The Past

Last Updated:August 05, 2025, 20:34 IST

Kalyan Banerjee resigned as TMC's Chief Whip in Lok Sabha after a public spat with Mahua Moitra. where she called him a "pig". Banerjee accused her of using dehumanising language.

TMC MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Mahua Moitra (PTI)

After resigning as Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chief Whip in Lok Sabha, senior party leader Kalyan Banerjee fired another salvo at Mahua Moitra over her “pig jibe", saying she lacked basic gratitude and apologised to the nation for defending her.

Sharing a video of a Parliament session from 2023 on X, Banerjee said, “In 2023, I stood by Ms. Moitra when she was under fire in Parliament — I did so out of conviction, not compulsion. Today, she repays that support by calling me a misogynist."

“I owe the nation an apology for having defended someone who clearly lacks basic gratitude. Let people see her words for what they are and judge accordingly," he added.

Kalyan Banerjee and Mahua Moitra have traded nasty barbs over the last few months. While replying to a question on Kalyan’s remarks on her marriage with BJD MP Pinaki Mishra at a podcast, Moitra 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."

Soon after these remarks, Kalyan Banerjee accused Moitra of abusing him and having a deep disregard for basic norms of civil discourse. “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," he said.

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“Labelling 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," he wrote.

Banerjee on Monday resigned as the party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha, hours after a virtual meeting of TMC MPs chaired by party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, where she reportedly expressed her displeasure over poor coordination in the party’s parliamentary wing.

In an emotional outburst, the senior TMC leader said he was deeply hurt by the party’s silence over “insults" hurled at him by a fellow MP, an apparent reference to Mahua Moitra, with whom he had frequent run-ins. “Didi says MPs are quarrelling… Should I tolerate those who abuse me? I informed the party leadership, but no action was taken. Instead, I am blamed. Let Didi run the party her way," he said.

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...

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August 05, 2025, 20:31 IST

News politics 'Lacks Basic Gratitude': In Fresh Jibe, Kalyan Banerjee Regrets Backing Mahua Moitra In The Past

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