Allegations of very personal questions to Mahua Moitra in the Ethics Committee; Letter written to Lok Sabha Speaker
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has accused Trinamool Congress woman MP Mahua Moitra of taking money in exchange for questions in Parliament. The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha is investigating this matter. Mahua Moitra, who appeared before the committee for questioning on Thursday, alleges that during the questioning in the committee, she was asked objectionable and very personal questions.
Meanwhile, Mahua Moitra wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accusing the Ethics Committee Chairman of ‘verbal disrobing’. The TMC MP alleged that he was treated in an unethical, indecent, prejudicial manner during his appearance before the Ethics Committee. He also said that committee chairman BJP MP Vinod Sonkar showed bias by asking questions in a derogatory manner instead of asking questions related to the case.
Mahua wrote that I am writing a letter to you very sad today. So that I can inform you about the unethical, disgusting and prejudiced behavior of the Chairman towards me in the Ethics Committee hearing. The committee should name itself something else instead of Ethics Committee. There is no morality left in this. Because of Chairman Vinod Sonkar’s stance, five of the 11 members protested against his shameful conduct and boycotted the proceedings.
Mahua further requested the Lok Sabha Secretariat to disclose the rules governing sharing of login and password of the portal just for typing questions, adding that nothing can be submitted without the OTP. Why were these rules never explained to the MPs and if so, why is each MP sharing this ID and login with multiple people?
Walkout of other opposition MPs along with Mahua
According to the report of news agency PTI about the meeting of the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha, Mahua Moitra along with other opposition members also boycotted the meeting in protest against personal questions. Protesting against the committee’s questions, opposition MPs along with Mahua staged a mass walkout. MPs from opposition parties raised questions on the manner in which the meeting was conducted.
#WATCH | Janata Dal (United) MP Giridhari Yadav says, "They asked personal questions to the woman (TMC MP Mahua Moitra). They do not have the right to ask personal questions, so we walked out."
— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2023
Congress MP Uttam Kumar Reddy says, "The whole line of questions it seems that he's… pic.twitter.com/vhrFrcJ3SV
Committee Chairman asked personal and unethical questions to BJP MP, Mahua
According to PTI’s report on the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee meeting, opposition members made serious allegations against panel chief Vinod Kumar Sonkar of asking personal, unethical questions to TMC MP Mahua Moitra. According to the news, the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee continued its deliberations even after the uproar by opposition members and TMC MP Mahua Moitra. Let us tell you that BJP MP Sonkar is MP from Kaushambi Lok Sabha seat of Uttar Pradesh.
Allegations of taking money in exchange for questions are baseless
Before appearing before the parliamentary committee, Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra vehemently rejected the allegations of bribery. He said that lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai is making baseless allegations of taking money in exchange for questions in Parliament due to enmity. On Thursday, Mahua pleaded innocent and told a parliamentary committee that the allegations were motivated by enmity against Dehadrai. PTI sources told that he has personal relations with him.
Got support from Congress and BSP MPs
At the meeting, Mahua Moitra got support from some opposition MPs including N Uttam Kumar Reddy of Telangana Congress and Danish Ali of Bahujan Samaj Party. However, some BJP members, including Madhya Pradesh BJP chief and MP VD Sharma, wanted Mahua to answer the core part of the allegations. Sources said a major part of his statement before the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha was about his relationship with Dehadrai. Mahua was seen blaming him for the leak and allegations.
Mahua’s statement on link with Hiranandani
The Trinamool Congress MP has claimed that the Adani Group is behind “fake” allegations due to his sharp criticism of the business conglomerate. Mahua has already made it clear that even though she has shared the login credentials of the Lok Sabha MP with businessman Darshan Hiranandani, she herself has asked all the questions related to Adani in the Lok Sabha. No money or gifts have been taken in return.
Mahua questioned the businessman’s statement
Citing lawyer Dehadrai’s plea, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has filed a complaint against Mahua with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Birla referred the matter to the ethics committee. Let us tell you that Moitra is accused of asking questions from a scion of a famous business family in exchange for bribes and benefits. The BJP MP says Mahua asked questions in the Lok Sabha on the orders of businessman Darshan Hiranandani.
