Ethics Panel Member Speaks Out on Major Accusation Against Mahua Moitra

Mahua Moitra Expelled from Parliament over ‘Cash for Query’ Allegations

New Delhi: Mahua Moitra, a Trinamool leader, has been expelled from parliament after allegations of ‘cash for query’ surfaced. Aparajita Sarangi, a member of the Parliament Ethics Committee, called Moitra’s conduct “unethical” as it was revealed that someone had used her parliament login credentials 47 times, even from Dubai and America. Businessman Darshan Hiranandani claimed in an affidavit that Moitra deliberately targeted industrialist Gautam Adani to embarrass Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Ethics Committee’s report on the matter was presented in the Lok Sabha, leading to Moitra’s expulsion. Aparajita Sarangi stated that Moitra’s punishment was not handed down by just a few individuals; it was the result of a thorough process involving the standing committee and hearings from both the complainant and the defendant. Sarangi added that Moitra’s appearance before the committee was marked by anger and the use of unparliamentary language, even directed at the committee chairman.

The main charge against Moitra was the unauthorized use of her parliament login credentials by someone else. Sarangi disclosed that the credentials were used 47 times and that the questions uploaded originated from various locations including Dubai, America, Bangalore, and Delhi. This behavior was considered improper and led to the committee’s recommendation for expulsion.

The proposal was then sent to the Lok Sabha Speaker and tabled for discussion. Moitra, on the other hand, claimed that the Ethics Committee violated rules and accused them of conducting a kangaroo court without evidence. She argued that there are no specific rules governing the sharing of login details and emphasized that MPs serve as conduits for bringing public concerns to the parliament.

Moitra pointed out that there was no evidence of cash or gifts involved in the allegations and criticized the ethics panel for not investigating the root cause of the issue. The Trinamool party criticized the expulsion as an overreach of power by the BJP, taking advantage of its majority in the Lok Sabha.

Aparajita Sarangi expressed her regret over the expulsion, stating that it was an unfortunate decision that did not bring joy to the committee. However, she emphasized that it was necessary to uphold the prestige of parliament. When asked about the need for further investigation, Sarangi stated that since the supreme authority of parliament has made a decision, there is no reason for any other agency to probe the matter.