1. Lok Sabha Ethics Committee recommends expulsion of Mahua Moitra over a “cash-for-query” allegation.
2. Chairman Vinod Kumar Sonkar tables the report during the House session.
3. The committee calls for severe action against Moitra for alleged serious misconduct.
New Delhi, Dec 08: The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha submitted its report on Friday, suggesting the expulsion of Trinamool Congress member Mahua Moitra amid the “cash-for-query” allegation. The committee, led by Chairman Vinod Kumar Sonkar, tabled the report during the House session, recommending severe action against Moitra for her alleged serious misconduct.
The report stated, “The serious misdemeanours on the part of Mahua Moitra call for severe punishment. The Committee, therefore, recommend that Mahua Moitra, MP may be expelled from the Membership of the Seventeenth Lok Sabha.”
Considering Moitra’s conduct as “highly objectionable, unethical, heinous, and criminal,” the committee proposed an intense legal and institutional inquiry by the Government of India in a time-bound manner.
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Upon tabling the report, Trinamool Congress and some Congress members protested in the Well of the House, demanding a copy.
Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee called for a discussion on the report before voting on its recommendations, which could lead to Moitra’s expulsion. Amid the commotion, proceedings were adjourned until 2 pm.
Moitra, reacting to the situation, left Parliament and commented, “Whatever has to happen, will happen after 2 pm” (after the House reconvenes).
The Ethics Committee adopted its report on November 9, suggesting Moitra’s expulsion from the Lok Sabha. Six members, including Congress MP Preneet Kaur, voted favourably, while four opposition members submitted dissent notes. Although the report was initially listed for December 4, it was not tabled then.
