American commentator Martin Longman, who wrote the 2017 essay titled 'The 12 Early Signs of Fascism' – which inspired Trinamool Congress lawmaker Mahua Moitra’s controversial maiden speech – came out in her support, and said that she was “falsely accused of plagiarising.”
Moitra, whose maiden speech in the Parliament on "seven signs of fascism" went viral earlier last week, has expressed dismay over the plagiarism charges levelled against her and blamed the BJP's "troll army" for the accusation.
“Plagiarism is when one does not disclose one’s source. My source, as mentioned categorically in my speech, was the poster from the Holocaust Museum created by the political scientist Dr Laurence W Brit pointing out the 14 signs of early fascism. I found seven signs relevant to India and spoke at length about each of them.”Mahua Moitra, BJP Lawmaker
‘I’ve Caused Enough Problems’
The commentator’s Twitter was flooded with messages from India, from people doubting his “authority” to others asking him to contest elections in India.
Journalist Called Out for Spreading ‘Fake News’
Meanwhile, senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan called out Zee News’ Sudhir Chaudhary for alleging the TMC parliamentarian had lifted parts of her speech in the Lok Sabha from Longman’s article, which referred to the US and President Donald Trump.
He asked Chaudhary to apologise to Moitra.
Journalist Vijaita Singh said all those who accused Mahua of plagiarising Longman’s speech should “zip their fake news factory”.
“I know it's difficult to deal with fiercely independent minded, eloquent women leaders, deal with it,” she wrote.
Unapologetic Mahua
The first-time MP from West Bengal's Krishnanagar said the article quoted from the same poster that she had referred to in her speech.
"My speech came from the heart and every Indian who has shared it did so from their heart. The hits were organic, not BOT controlled. I repeat... Bandhney mujhey tu aaya hai. Zanjeer badi kya laya hai (you have come to chain me, are your shackles enough)?" Moitra said.
Many on Twitter applauded Mahua’s response. “Presenting to you the Bengal Tigress Mahua Moitra, who called out & cussed motivated paid media, UNAPOLOGETICALLY, on their face,” tweeted Zainab Sikander.
What This Controversy Tells Us
One journalist said that the irony of the plagiarism “non-controversy is that instead of reflecting on how India is turning more fascist, many are discussing whether she stole the ideas in her speech.”
Another Twitter user summed up the controversy like this:
The 42-year-old, who is a former investment banker, trended on social media after her speech on 25 June, during a debate on the President's address.
(With inputs from PTI)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)