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PM Modi's 'muh par taala' swipe at TMC's Kalyan Banerjee: 'No one allows him to speak in Bengal'

PM Modi requested Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla to allow Banerjee to speak since he is "not allowed to do so" in West Bengal.

Published on: Apr 16, 2026, 16:31:09 IST
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As Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on Thursday regarding the women's reservation bill, the senior BJP leader also took a swipe at Trinamool Congress' MP Kalyan Banerjee.

As Modi addressed the lower house, the TMC MP was heard raising his objection to the prime minister.
As Modi addressed the lower house, the TMC MP was heard raising his objection to the prime minister.

In the swipe, which also comes in the run up to the West Bengal assembly elections, PM Modi requested Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla to allow Banerjee to speak since he is "not allowed to do so" in West Bengal.

As Modi addressed the lower house, the TMC MP was heard raising his objection to the prime minister. In a clip from the address, which is now making rounds on social media, Birla is seen asking Banerjee to take his seat.

However, watching this, PM Modi told Birla: "Arre bhai, inko bolne dijiye, waha par bechare ke muh pe taala laga hua hai. Waha Bengal me koi bolne nahi deta isko." (Let him speak. he has a lock on his mouth since they don't allow him to speak in Bengal)

In 2025, Banerjee was involved in a very public spat with fellow TMC MP Mahua Moitra, over which TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee expressed "displeasure" and asked for a stop to the infighting.

The spat, which included personal attacks between to two TMC MPs, also resulted in Kalyan Banerjee's resignation as the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha.

PM pushes for women reservation bill in Lok Sabha

On Thursday, Prime Minister Modi appealed to the opposition to allow the passage and implementation of the women's reservation bill. The bill, which was initially passed unanimously in 2023, has been pushed again with an amendment which would allow 33 per cent of Lok Sabha seats being reserved for women based on the 2011 census.

The bill also pushes for an increase in the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha to 815, of which, around 272 seats will be reserved for women.

Speaking in the lower house, PM Modi also warned the opposition, stating that if anyone were to object to this reservation, they will “not be forgiven by the women of India.”

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danita Yadav

Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.

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