Mahua Moitra News: Parliament Ethics Committee Meeting Descends into Disarray as Accusations & Unparliamentary Language Fly

Mahua Moitra News Latest: Opposition MPs, including prominent Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra and BSP MP Danish Ali, walked out from the Parliament Ethics Committee meeting on Thursday. The incident unfolded as Mahua Moitra, who was summoned to depose before the committee regarding allegations of cash-for-query, accused the committee of posing "filthy questions."

"Is this an ethics committee?...reading from a script," Mahua Moitra questioned before the media.

Moitra's frustration extended to a reporter who inquired about her emotions, to which she snapped, "There are no tears in my eyes...making up any rubbish...'tears in your eyes'. Have you seen my eyes? Are there tears in them?"

On the other side of the controversy, the chairman of the Parliament Ethics Committee, Vinod Sonkar, accused Moitra of using "unparliamentary language" during the proceedings.

"Instead of providing answers, she (Mahua Moitra) got angry and used unparliamentary language directed at the Chairperson and Committee members. Danish Ali, Girdhari Yadav, and other Opposition MPs attempted to accuse the committee and subsequently walked out...The committee will convene to determine further action," Sonkar stated.

Members of the Opposition who left the meeting voiced their discontent, claiming that the committee posed "unethical questions" to Moitra.

Congress MP and panel member N Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed, "We found the ethics committee chairperson's questions to Moitra undignified and unethical. The entire line of questioning appears to be influenced by external forces. It is deeply concerning. For the past two days, we have been asking certain questions...They inquired about her travel plans, meetings, and requested access to her phone records."

Janata Dal (United) MP Giridhari Yadav contended that the committee had no right to ask personal questions of Mahua Moitra.

During her deposition, Mahua Moitra defended herself against the allegations and conveyed to the parliamentary committee that the charges against her were motivated by a personal dispute with advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, who had broken ties with her.

However, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi condemned Mahua Moitra's conduct, labeling it "condemnable." She accused Moitra of using "unparliamentary language" when addressing the committee members.

Sarangi emphasized the confidentiality of Parliamentary Standing Committee proceedings and criticized Moitra's breach of this confidentiality. She added, "The conduct of Mahua Moitra was condemnable. She used unparliamentary words for our chairman and for all the members of the committee."

What's the Matter?

The controversy surrounding Mahua Moitra revolves around allegations of accepting bribes in exchange for posing questions in Parliament. The accusations surfaced last month when a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, asserting that Moitra had accepted bribes in return for raising questions in Parliament. The complaint was based on documents provided by Supreme Court attorney Jai Anant Dehadrai. Subsequently, the Speaker referred the matter to the ethics committee, led by BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar, for investigation.