Mahua Moitra Expelled From Lok Sabha Denying Right To Defend
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra was expelled from the Parliament following the recommendations of Ethics Panel Committee report on matters of allegations raised against TMC MP in a cash-for-query row. As the heated discussion on the Lok Sabha on the matter of TMC MP Mahua Moitra”s expulsion from the house is going on, the affected party was not allowed to speak. The basic right of an accused to explain any accusations raised against them was declined in the Parliament. During the discussion concerning her expulsion, TMC MP was denied permission to respond the allegation levelled against her.
When the discussion started, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury stated that at least three to four days should be given to study the report and also stressed that TMC leader should be allowed to present her response with regarding the story. “Considering the seriousness and importance of the matter, I would request that members may be given sufficient time of 3 to 4 days at least to study the report and prepare themselves for the discussion in the House,” India Today quotes as Adhir Ranjan saying.
Congress MP Manish Tiwari questioned the objectivity in which Ethics Committee conducted the whole procedure. “The alleged ‘accused’ wasn’t even allowed to make her statement fully. What sort of procedure is this? The one who had accused, she should have had the right to cross-examine him… This is not Parliament today. We are sitting as judge and jury,” India Today quotes as Congress MP Manish Tewari said.
Similarly, Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay stated in the house that ethics panels suggestion to expel Mahua Moitra as “political vendetta” and it was intended to stop her from lifting issues against Adani Group. Besides, he also asked the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that she should be given time to make her speech to which Speaker replied that half an hour would be given on the discussion on the matter. “Wild allegations have been raised. Whether it is true or wrong, let it be spoken by her…” Sudip Bandyopadhyay pressed.
TMC MP then asked why ethics panel did not held a second meeting; “The first meeting (of the ethics panel) ended in a short time and could not produce any result. Why was a second meeting not held? Why such a hurry?” he enquired. Sudip Bandyopadhyay also asked why the report was tabled on a Friday, which is devoted to Private Members” Business. “It could have been introduced on Monday… Everywhere we find there is some motivation. We can say it is absolute political vendetta,” he said.
Continuing further, Bandyopadhyay argued that the government was “unable to digest” Mahua Moitra”s accusation against the Adani group. “They want her to be stopped.” “The whole country has seen how the first meeting started and ended. This projection of the outcome and result of the meeting cannot go to the extent that one Member of Parliament is expelled,” he added.
Lok Sabha Speaker, rejecting the permission said: “I have a copy of the traditions that were followed in the past. Former Speakers Somnath Chatterjee and Pranab Mukherjee were here as well. The rules and traditions that they have laid down are considered the rules of the House. Somnath Chatterjee had said that the Members against whom there are accusations are given ample time to speak before the Committee,” Quint quotes as Speaker is saying.
The Ethics panel committee report was tabled in the house by BJP MP and Ethics Committee chairperson Vinod Sonkar. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi moved the motion to expel.
(With inputs from PTI, India Today)
