Moitra’s comment, reportedly made during an interaction with media in Nadia district, sparked immediate criticism and legal action. A First Information Report was lodged in Raipur’s Mana Camp police station on 30 August, under Sections 196 and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, following a complaint by local resident Gopal Samanto. These sections address issues of promoting enmity between groups and prejudicial assertions against national integration.
The BJP responded with strong condemnation, describing Moitra’s words as hateful and unacceptable. Party leaders demanded clarification from the TMC on whether this statement reflected its official stance. Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, called upon West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to either distance the party from Moitra’s remark or take disciplinary action, even urging an apology to the nation.
Amid mounting backlash, Moitra defended her comment as a metaphorical idiom, telling reporters that “idiots don’t understand idioms.” She argued that, much like “heads will roll” signifies accountability in English, the Bengali phrase she used—“Matha Kata Jawa”—conveys ownership of responsibility and shame. The MP further accused authorities of misinterpreting the idiom through successive mistranslations and defended her position via a video post on X.
The row has reignited discussions over border security and political rhetoric. Moitra had criticised the Union government’s handling of infiltration concerns, pointing out that border protection falls under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry—heading responsibility that, she implied, had not been adequately fulfilled. Her remarks reference ongoing debates around demographic changes and questions about enforcement agencies' effectiveness.
Within her own party, reactions remain muted; the TMC leadership has not issued an official statement. Meanwhile, in West Bengal and elsewhere, BJP-affiliated groups have initiated protests, including plans for a women-led foot march in Kolkata to publicly denounce Moitra’s words.
TS Singh Deo’s condemnation stands out as a rare dissent from within the Congress stable, emphasising the fine line political figures must navigate between aggressive criticism and unacceptable language. His succinct yet firm statement captures the discomfort among mainstream parties at discourse that crosses into violent metaphor, even when framed as idiomatic.