Lok Sabha Ethics Committee Recommends Expulsion of TMC MP Mahua Moitra

In a significant development, the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee made a decision on November 9, with a narrow 6-4 vote, to recommend the expulsion of Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament (MP) Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha. The report adopted by the committee accuses Moitra of “unethical conduct” and “contempt of the House” for sharing her Lok Sabha log-in credentials with unauthorized individuals. This action has been deemed a “serious misdemeanor,” leading to the recommendation of “severe punishment.” The committee further called for a “time-bound, intense, legal, institutional inquiry” by the Government of India (GOI) into what they described as “highly objectionable, unethical, heinous, and criminal conduct.” Additionally, the panel left the task of investigating and establishing the money trail to the central government.

One noteworthy aspect of this development is the split within the committee, with Congress MP Praneet Kaur casting her vote in favor of the report while the other four Opposition MPs submitted dissent notes. The dissenting voices, including CPI (M) MP PR Natarajan, expressed shock at the “unseemly haste and complete lack of propriety and legal requirements in which this so-called enquiry has been conducted.” Additionally, the committee reprimanded one of its members, BSP MP Danish Ali, for allegedly “twisting/moulding the intent of the question put forth by the Chairperson.” This decision has ignited discussions and speculations about the potential repercussions it may have on the political landscape.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright