The expulsion of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra from the 17th Lok Sabha in connection with the ‘Cash for Query’ case has ignited controversy and led to a walkout by opposition members. TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay, expressing dissatisfaction, claimed that justice had been denied to Moitra and accused the Ethics Committee of being wielded as a political tool.
Sudip Bandyopadhyay asserted, “Justice has been denied to Mahua Moitra. They did not let us speak; they tried to muffle the democratic tradition. Parties of the India alliance came together on this.” He criticized how the proceedings unfolded, suggesting that democratic norms were being stifled.
Moitra herself, in response to her expulsion, issued a scathing statement, asserting that the Ethics Committee, which was meant to serve as a moral compass, had been weaponized to crush opposition. She accused the committee of breaking every rule and emphasized that she had been found guilty of breaching a code of ethics that did not exist. Moitra contended that the findings were based on the written testimonies of two private citizens whose accounts contradicted each other, and her right to cross-examine them was denied.
The expelled MP raised specific concerns about the contradictions in the testimonies, highlighting the conflicting versions presented by the complainant and the businessman involved. She pointed out that the two private citizens were polar opposites in their accounts of the alleged incident.
The Ethics Committee’s report recommended Moitra’s expulsion from the Lok Sabha and called for an intense, legal, institutional inquiry by the central government. The committee contended that Moitra’s conduct warranted severe punishment. Speaker Om Birla announced the adoption of the committee’s conclusions, stating that Moitra’s conduct was deemed immoral and indecent as an MP, justifying her expulsion.
The decision sparked immediate opposition from MPs, leading to a walkout from the Lok Sabha. The political fallout from Moitra’s expulsion is expected to reverberate in the coming days, with debates over parliamentary ethics, procedural fairness, and the role of the Ethics Committee taking center stage. The escalating tensions within the Lok Sabha underscore the challenges of balancing due process and political accountability in matters of alleged ethical misconduct by its members.