TMC MP Mahua Moitra expelled from Lok Sabha over cash-for-query charge

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has been expelled from the Lok Sabha in 'cash for query' matter.The Ethics Committee tabled a report in the House on Friday in which it recommended the expulsion of the TMC MP in a “cash-for-query” case. The opposition staged a walkout before the passing of the motion moved by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi.Reacting on her expulsion, Moitra said: "The ethics committee without getting to the root of this has decided to hang me.. It refused to summon the businessman to testify and there is evidence of any cash or any gifts."[video width="848" height="480" mp4="https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/WhatsApp-Video-2023-12-08-at-3.10.10-PM.mp4"][/video]Source: News18She also called the parliament "kangaroo court".During the Lok Sabha proceedings on Friday, another TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla with "folded hands" to allow Moitra to speak before voting take place, but it was denied.Later, Om Birla explained why Mahua Moitra was not giving permission to speak in the House."I have a copy of the traditions that were followed earlier. Former Speakers Somnath Chatterjee and Pranab Mukherjee were here earlier...The rules and traditions that they gave are considered our rules. Somnath Chatterjee had said that the Members against whom there are accusations are given ample time to speak before the Committee...This House has the tradition that the traditions followed by the previous Speakers are always further followed by the next Speakers...," the Lok Sabha chairperson.Mahua Moitra 'cash for query' caseBusinessman Darshan Hiranandani, who allegedly paid Moitra to raise questions in Parliament about the Adani Group, had claimed in a signed affidavit that Moitra targeted industrialist Gautam Adani to "malign and embarrass" Prime Minister Narendra Modi.At a meeting on 9 November, the Committee adopted its report recommending Moitra's expulsion from the Lok Sabha over the "cash-for-query" allegation.Six members of the panel, including suspended Congress member Preneet Kaur, voted in favour of the report. Four members of the panel belonging to opposition parties submitted dissent notes.The opposition members termed the report a "fixed match" and said the complaint filed by BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey, which the panel reviewed, was not supported by a "shred of evidence".Moitra can be expelled only if the House votes in favour of the panel's recommendation.With inputs from agencies