KOLKATA: In a dramatic turn of events, opposition parliamentarians staged walkouts from the Lok Sabha ethics committeeโs session, expressing strong reservations regarding the questions posed to Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra.
The walkouts occurred as the panel was grilling Moitra based on the allegations made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey in the โCash for Queryโ case. Opposition members outside the committee chamber condemned Moitraโs treatment and labelled it as โunethical.โ
Moitra and her fellow opposition MPs emerged from the committeeโs questioning, criticising the line of inquiry. โThe ethics committee is asking all unethical questions,โ Moitra stated, reflecting the oppositionโs sentiment.
Danish Ali, who was present during the panelโs questioning of Moitra, explained the walkout, emphasising the committeeโs unethical line of questioning, which delved into private matters such as her nighttime conversations and their nature.
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Another Congress MP opined that it seemed the ethics committee was acting at someoneโs behest, and there was no evidence of a cash transfer.
Vinod Sonkar, Chairman of the Parliament Ethics Committee, addressed the media outside, revealing, โMoitra instead of cooperating and answering the questions became very angry. The opposition MPs present there tried to accuse the committee. The committee will decide on further course of action.โ
Nishikant Dubey, who had acted as a witness alongside Jai Anant Dehadrai, asserted, โIn public, Moitra tried to set up a wrong narrative. This is the darkest day in the history of parliament.โ
On October 31, the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee summoned Mahua Moitra to respond to the cash-for-query charges. However, following Durga Puja, Moitra had requested more time due to prior commitments and assured the committee of her appearance after November 4. The committee summoned her today.
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The charges against Moitra were levelled by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. In their complaint, BJPโs Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai alleged that Moitra had shared her Lok Sabha login and password with industrialist Hiranandani, who, in an affidavit submitted to the Ethics Committee, turned approver.
The political storm was ignited when BJPโs Nishikant Dubey accused Moitra, who represents the Krishnanagar constituency in West Bengal, of providing Darshan Hiranandani and the Hiranandani Conglomerate with access to her Lok Sabha website login credentials for personal gain, considering it the most serious of all the charges against her.
Dubey went further by seeking Moitraโs โimmediate suspensionโ from the House based on his accusations. The Parliamentary Ethics Committee summoned Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai on October 26.
Following Dubeyโs complaint against Moitra, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla referred the matter to the Ethics panel.
