Mahua Moitra, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, has petitioned the Supreme Court to have her removed from the Lok Sabha over allegations of involvement in a ‘Cash-for-Query’ scheme. The controversy erupted following the Ethics Committee’s discussion of the issue, during which Moitra was removed from the Lower House.
During the debate in the Lok Sabha, Moitra was denied a chance to speak and presented her remarks outside the parliamentary chamber. Criticizing the Ethics Ctoommittee’s conduct, she accused it of flouting regulations. Moitra lamented the committee’s misuse, alleging its transformation into a tool for suppressing opposition voices rather than upholding ethical standards for members.
Expressing her resolve, Moitra vehemently asserted her determination to fight against this dismissal. She passionately declared, “For the next 30 years, I will fight you inside the Parliament and outside; in the gutter and on the streets. We will see the end of you… This is the beginning of your end.”
Moitra denounced the Ethics Committee’s findings, labeling the alleged code of ethics violation as “non-existent.” She contended that her opportunity to cross-examine individuals whose written testimonies contradicted each other was deprived, leading to a biased outcome solely based on their statements.
According to the report on the ‘cash-for-questions’ issue, Moitra allegedly visited the United Arab Emirates on multiple occasions between 2019 and 2023, with several logins recorded during those periods. The panel, with a 6:4 majority, recently endorsed the report, prompting Moitra’s challenge in the Supreme Court against her dismissal from the Lok Sabha.