Mahua Moitra who is a member of All India Trinamool Congress has found herself in the mix with the allegation of “cash for query” that was brought to light by the Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, who happens to a former partner of Mahua, which accused her of asking questions to target the Adani group at the order of a businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange of gifts and bribes.
Looking into this matter, the Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha has recommended the expulsion of Moitra from the Parliament while accusing her of “unethical conduct”. Additionally, the Ethics Committee found upon investigation that the allegations against Moitra in nature were extremely serious and that they posed a threat to national security. The quick action of the Ethics Committee has been successful in setting a precedent before the masses and has also subliminally made the other members of Parliament cautious about their actions in the future.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi put out a statement informing the public that the expulsion recommendation of the Ethics Panel is yet to be tabled in the Lok Sabha. From the current vantage point, the fate of Moitra lies in the hands of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Via the reporters, Joshi further adds that the government is looking forward to having an open, fruitful discussion in the Winter Session but the parties need to be in check and “follow procedure” for a “structured debate”.
Joshi hopes for the smooth running of the Parliament where he says, “This is the last session of the 17th Lok Sabha. So there should be a structural debate. We request that the house should run smoothly. We would like to keep the unprecedented work done under the leadership of Modi in the last five years on record.”
The Winter session is supposed to start from 4th December and go all the way till 22nd December which involves 15 sittings in 19 days. Joshi seems positive that irrespective of the nature of the precedent that the Ethics panel decides, the speaker will give it a go as the allegations against Moitra are indicative of her “criminal” conduct of sharing login credentials to unauthorized persons. Moitra has also found herself under the radar of the CBI where the Bureau has undertaken preliminary investigation following reference from anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal.
Comments