Mahua Moitra, a prominent figure in the Trinamool Congress, has been expelled from the Lok Sabha following accusations about the 'cash for query' scandal.
The allegations suggested that Ms Moitra, aged 49, received bribes amounting to ₹2 crores in cash and luxurious gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani. These alleged bribes were purportedly in exchange for asking critical questions about the government during parliamentary sessions.
Accusations also surfaced that Moitra shared her log-in credentials to her confidential parliamentary account with Mr Hiranandani. This allowed him to post questions on her behalf directly. Despite denying the bribery charges, Moitra admitted to sharing her login details.
On her way to Parliament the next morning, Moitra, known for her outspoken nature, paused briefly to tell reporters, "Maa Durga aa gayi hai, ab dekhenge...Jab naash manuj par chhata hai, pehle vivek mar jaata hai (Maa Durga has arrived! Now we shall witness... when destruction comes, conscience dies first)."
Consequently, after a heated discussion and a voice vote, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced her expulsion, citing the Ethics Committee's conclusions that deemed Moitra's conduct immoral and unfit for an MP.
The Cash-for-Query Controversy Explained
The controversy arose when Moitra was accused by her former close associate and lawyer, Jai Anant Dehadrai, along with Nishikant Dubey, a lawmaker from the ruling BJP, of accepting money and lavish gifts in exchange for posing specific questions in the Lok Sabha. Subsequently, Dubey pushed for Moitra's expulsion, leading the case to be investigated by the Ethics Committee.
Moitra admitted before the committee that she shared her online credentials with a businessman, enabling the submission of pre-approved questions in the Lok Sabha. The committee's 500-page report, adopted by a 6:4 majority, highlighted Moitra's frequent visits to the UAE between 2019 and 2023, while her login was accessed multiple times. The report indicated a breach of parliamentary ethics and raised concerns about compromising national security, leading to her expulsion from the Seventeenth Lok Sabha.
Ethics Panel Ruling Condemned by Moitra
After her expulsion, Moitra spoke to reporters outside Parliament, vehemently asserting that the Ethics Committee had "violated every rule." She expressed concern, stating, "... Tomorrow, CBI will be sent to my home to harass me..." The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) subsequently initiated an inquiry into the allegations against her.
Mahua Moitra fiercely rebuked her expulsion, vehemently denying any evidence implicating her. To reporters, she lashed out, stating, "No cash, no gifts were found anywhere. The expulsion was based solely on the claim that I shared my login, which has no basis in any rule."
She criticized the Ethics Committee, accusing it of distorting its moral mandate to silence opposition voices, saying, "Ironically, the ethics committee... has been misused to achieve what it was never designed for - silencing the opposition and becoming a tool to intimidate us."
Mamata Banerjee on Mahua Moitra's expulsion:
West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, strongly criticized the expulsion of her party member, Mahua Moitra, from the Lok Sabha today, calling it a clear case of "vendetta politics" by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"This is blatant vendetta politics by the BJP. It's an attack on democracy... It's unjust. Mahua will prevail. The people will respond fittingly to the BJP. They'll face defeat in the next election," stated Chief Minister Banerjee.
She condemned Moitra's expulsion as a disgrace to parliamentary democracy and accused the ruling party of denying Moitra the chance to defend herself against the accusations.
"She (Moitra) will return to Parliament with greater support. The BJP believes they can act with impunity due to their overwhelming majority. But they should remember that power dynamics can shift," warned Ms Banerjee.
Despite Moitra's and opposition members' demands for her to speak in her defence, she was denied the opportunity before the vote. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved for her expulsion based on "unethical conduct," which was approved via a voice vote.
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