'Cash-for-Query' Ethics Report on Mahua Moitra presented in Lok Sabha

The Ethics Committee's report recommending the expulsion of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in the "cash-for-query" controversy was tabled in the Lok Sabha today, stirring a ruckus among TMC MPs.

Presentation Amidst Uproar

Bharatiya Janata Party MP and Ethics Committee chairperson Vinod Kumar presented the 500-page report in both Hindi and English versions. However, the tabling was accompanied by slogans raised by TMC MPs.

Expulsion Recommendation

The Ethics Committee, which probed allegations made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, recommended Moitra's expulsion due to her "highly objectionable, unethical, heinous, and criminal conduct." The draft report, adopted with a 6:4 majority in the panel last month, reveals Moitra's alleged visits to the UAE from 2019 to 2023.

Dissent and Opposition

Four opposition members submitted dissent notes, branding the report a "fixed match" and claiming a lack of evidence supporting Dubey's complaint. Moitra's expulsion would require approval from the House.

Demand for Defence Opportunity

The TMC has urged that Moitra be given the chance to present her defence. TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay stated, "TMC MP Mahua Moitra should be given a chance to speak."

Moitra's Previous Appearance

Moitra had faced the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on November 2 regarding the cash-for-query allegations. Opposition members, including her, walked out, questioning the line of questioning and alleging the posing of "personal questions."

The development sets the stage for a critical decision by the Lok Sabha regarding Moitra's expulsion based on the Ethics Committee's recommendation.