Md Moquim breaks silence after expulsion, says ‘showed mirror to Congress’

Hours after his expulsion from the Odisha unit of the Indian National Congress (INC), former Cuttack-Barabati MLA Mohammed Moquim on Monday said that he had done nothing wrong and had simply highlighted what was wrong within the party.

Addressing a presser, the former Barabati-Congress MLA Moquim asserted that while the party had removed him from its primary membership, it could not distance him from the Congress ideology. He also added that he came to know about his expulsion through news reports and maintained that his letter to the party leadership was written with the intention of reform, not disruption.

‘Showed The Mirror To The Party’

Moquim maintained that his intervention was not to insult the leadership. “I have shown the mirror to the party. I believed that the Congress would bring reforms,” he said, adding that he had committed no wrongdoing and would continue to remain active in politics.

Stating that his actions had no connection with Sonia Gandhi personally, Moquim said the issues he raised were strictly organisational.

Defends Letter, Cites Right To Dissent

The former MLA defended his decision to write to the party high command, stating that internal feedback should not be equated with indiscipline.

“I expected that the Congress party would take action against internal disorganisation, but did not know that they would expel me for this,” Moquim said.

Referring to Rahul Gandhi, Moquim described him as one of the most distinguished leaders of the party, but asserted that party workers have the right to point out mistakes.

“Rahul Gandhi is one of the most distinguished leaders within the party. But even if he makes a mistake, we have the right to speak out,” he said, adding that he did not regret the contents of his letter.

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‘I Am Expelled, Not My Ideology’

Moquim said the Congress may have expelled him organisationally, but it could not sever his ideological association with the party.

“The Congress has expelled me from its primary membership, but no one can distance me from its ideology,” he said, adding that his political beliefs remained unchanged despite the disciplinary action.

He thanked the media for giving importance to his letter and said he expected the party to introspect and take corrective steps in the future.

On questions about joining another political party or floating a new platform, the former MLA said he had not made a decision yet.

“I did not even know about my expulsion. I will consult my supporters and my circles and will inform (the press) about the next steps,” he said, while reiterating that he continued to carry the Congress’s thinking and ideology.

Earlier today, the Congress announced Moquim’s expulsion for alleged anti-party activities, following a proposal by Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Das that was approved by the All India Congress Committee.

Party sources cited a five-page letter written by Moquim to Sonia Gandhi, questioning the state leadership and the functioning of the party, as the trigger for the action.

Congress leaders said the decision was taken to maintain party discipline and organisational unity, with senior leaders publicly defending the move and questioning the timing and public circulation of Moquim’s letter.