Lok Sabha’s Ethics
Committee adopted its draft report, recommending TMC leader Mahua Moitra’s expulsion
from 17th Lok Sabha for indulging in “unethical conduct” and committing
“serious misdemeanours.”
The action was
taken after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey levelled the cash-for-query allegations against
Moitra.
Besides, the
committee recommended for an “intense, legal, institutional inquiry” by the
government in a time-bound manner in view of the “highly objectionable,
unethical, heinous and criminal conduct” by her.
The report was
adopted after voting – with six MPs – 5 of the ruling NDA and Preneet Kaur of
the Congress, wife of Captain Amarinder Singh who is now with the BJP – in its
favour and four from the Opposition against it.
The Opposition MPs
– BSP’s Danish Ali, Congress’s V Vaithilingam, CPM’s P R Natarajan and JD(U)’s
Giridhari Yadav – submitted dissent notes, disagreeing with the decision.
Moitra is blamed of
sharing her Parliament login and password with businessman Darshan Hiranandani
so that he could “post the questions” directly “on her behalf when required”.
Earlier, Moitra admitted
about sharing her Parliament login and password details to Hiranandani but
denied taking any cash from him, as alleged by lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai in his
complaint to the CBI.
The committee
report said the Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology (MEITY) had
in its report stated that the member portal of Moitra had been “operated 47
times” from the UAE between July 2019 and April 2013.
The report flagged
concerns that “transfer of login credentials to unauthorized elements could
provide an opportunity to such elements to access the system leading to several
potential hazards” and cripple the functioning of the Parliament of India. “Such
elements could plant material into the system that could impact National
Security by creating false documents or fake narratives, etc.”
