I regret Mahua Moitra’s situation. He is politically astute and articulate. She became a vice chairman of JPMorgan after working as an investment banker and graduating from Massachusetts’ Mount Holyoke College. She quit her work in 2009 to become a member of the Indian National Congress. She joined the Trinamool Congress in 2010 after quitting the party, and in 2019 she was elected as an MP.
MP Nishikant Dubey lodged a complaint against Moitra with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha on October 15, claiming that Moitra had gotten material benefits in exchange for her question-asking in Parliament. To register questions, Zero Hour submissions, and special mentions on the Parliament web, MPs are given an ID and password. It was said that he gave industrialist Darshan Hiranandani his ID and password, allowing him to listen in and inquire about rival Adani Group.The Speaker referred the issue to the Parliamentary Ethics Committee on October 17. In an affidavit he filed on October 19, Hiranandani acknowledged using Moitra’s ID and password to submit the questions. In addition, he claimed to have accepted gifts.
In a series of press conferences between October 23 and October 3, Moitra admitted that she had in fact given the industrialist her Parliament ID and password and that he had put the questions online, even before the Ethics Committee’s hearing got underway. In addition, he acknowledged accepting gifts from the businessman. In addition, he publicly accused all MPs of not writing their own questions or submitting them to the Parliament website.
The Ethics Committee convened and heard arguments from Moitra and Dubey among others. She said she was being asked personal questions and left the committee meeting while she was being questioned. The Ethics Committee recommended his dismissal from Parliament in its report, which was turned in on November 9.
The report of the committee was presented to Parliament on December 8. The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs suggested Moitra’s dismissal.
Girdhari Yadav, a JD(U) MP, stated during the expulsion motion, “I too cannot recall my password.” My PA is aware of this. I haven’t inquired since I believe that everything is known to God. I’ve never made up any queries. A lot of MPs don’t even think out their queries. I have no idea how to operate a computer.
“I request all MPs to prepare their own questions and put it,” the speaker retorted. You are the only one who can do this. You could be the target of severe action in such a situation. It’s what you say on record. I refuse to allow this House’s honour to be compromised.
The expulsion motion was discussed and then put to a vote. After the opposition withdrew, the proposal was approved by a vote. Moitra was banished.
I wish to concentrate on two matters: Initially, both Moitra and Girdhari Yadav levelled