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The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee recommended the expulsion of TMC MP Mahua Moitra from the House in the “cash-for-query” matter, sources said.
As per media reports, The committee, headed by BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar, met in New Delhi and adopted its report recommending her expulsion.
After the meeting, Sonkar told reporters that six members of the panel supported adoption of the report and four opposed it. Sources said the panel recommended Moitra’s expulsion from the Lok Sabha.
The report will now be sent to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for further action. The committee has earlier heard Moitra, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who filed the complaint against her, and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai.
Reacting to the move , Calling the recommendation the death of parliamentary democracy, Mahua said that this is a pre-fixed match by a kangaroo court.
“Even if they expel me, I will be back in next Lok Sabha with bigger mandate,” Moitra told PTI.
Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee claimed that whoever questioned the government was “harassed” by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance dispensation at the Centre.
“Whoever is questioning the government on the Adani issue is being harassed. How can the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee take any action against Mahua Moitra even before the allegations are proved against her?” Banerjee asked.
The TMC party has while supporting Moitra, till now has had a hands-off approach and at one stage even said it would await the Ethics committee’s report on the issue.
Banerjee’s unequivocal support seems to indicate the regional party will put all its weight behind her in the battle ahead for the MP who is combatting allegations of cash-for-questions.
The TMC leader lauded Moitra for being capable enough to fight the battle.
