NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra was expelled from her position as a parliamentarian. This marked the first instance of someone being ousted from the new parliament building premises.
Moitra faced the bludgeon of the jury in the cash-for-query scam, which ascertained her expulsion, according to the recommendations of the parliamentary ethics committee. The TMC had requested the Speaker Om Birla to make the Krishnanagar MP to be the party’s main spokesperson during the debate, however, the requests were turned down. Moitra remained silent throughout the ‘trial’.
While reading out the judgement following the votes, Birla stated, “This House accepts the conclusions of the Committee that MP Mahua Moitra’s conduct was immoral and indecent as an MP. So, it is not appropriate for her to continue as an MP.”
FLASH: Parliament commitee confirms expulsion of controversial TMC MP #MahuaMoitra from the #LokSabha in the ‘#CashForQueryScam‘.
The #EthicsCommittee report was tabled in the House in the morning.
Reports: @rohanduaT02
Source: Sansad TV pic.twitter.com/EDJuumaJST— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) December 8, 2023
Following the voting that went overwhelmingly against her favour, Moitra called the ‘jury’ a “kangaroo court” reiterating that there was no evidence of cash being transacted. “There was no evidence of any cash, any gifts anywhere. The recommendation of expulsion was solely based on the complaint that I shared my login. But there is no rule whatsoever in this regard,” said Moitra, while reading out the statement that she had come prepared with.
FLASH: Expelled from Parliament, #MahuaMoitra declares war: ‘I am 49 years old, I will fight you for the next 30 years inside Parliament, outside Parliament.’
Ex MP strongly criticizes Ethics Committee for adopting ‘cash-for-query’ recommendation.
All TMC and opposition MPs… pic.twitter.com/vl8l0Oca9G
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) December 8, 2023
“The Lok Sabha witnessed the weaponisation of the parliamentary ethics committee, which was made to check us morally but now they have used it to bulldoze the opposition,” Moitra added.
Congress MP Manish Tewari, had also been warned by the Speaker to not deem him as the judge when Tiwari demanded from Birla to make the “appropriate judgment”.
Leader of Opposition and Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had also sent a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker prior to the hearing, stating that at least three to four days should be given to the MPs to decide upon her expulsion.
