'My Speech Came From the Heart': TMC MP Mahua Moitra Dismisses Allegations of Plagiarism

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress lawmaker Mahua Moitra, whose maiden speech in the Parliament on "seven signs of fascism" went viral last week, has expressed dismay over the plagiarism charges levelled against her and blamed the BJP's "troll army" for the accusation.

Moitra's maiden fiery Lok Sabha speech last month, where she had listed the “danger signs of early fascism in India”, had won the hearts of millions and even secured attention of the international media.

"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," Moitra said in a statement. "I found seven signs relevant to India and spoke at length about each of them."

Tweets have been doing the rounds quoting a Washington Monthly article alleging that the TMC parliamentarian had lifted parts of her speech in the Lok Sabha from an article published on "12 early warning signs of fascism", which referred to the US and President Donald Trump.

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.

The 42-year-old, who is a former investment banker, trended on social media after her speech on June 25 during a debate on the president's address. She had started her speech by accepting the resounding mandate of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had then criticised the dispensation.

Moitra's speech had left the ruling MPs embarrassed. When members of the treasury bench tried to shout her down, an unfazed Moitra had appealed to the Speaker to rein in the “professional hecklers”.

(With inputs from PTI)