New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha on Friday after the Ethics Committee of the Lower House tabled its report recommending as much over allegations she took money to ask questions in parliament. Speaker Om Birla did not allow Moitra to speak.
After just two hours to read the 104-page report in the house after it was tabled, a 30-minute discussion was scheduled for 3 pm today. However and Moitra’s expulsion was announced within just a few minutes of debate starting.
Opposition MPs questioned the ethics committee for not cross examining Darshan Hiranandani and also on how parliamentarians were essentially pronouncing judgement against a fellow parliamentarian. The Speaker had even denied her permission to speak in the house.
Stepping out of parliament, Moitra said this was a kangaroo court. “Since I was not allowed to speak outside parliament, I am taking this opportunity to speak outside it. I thank my INDIA alliance colleagues…as the hearing of the ethics committee demonstrates, all of us MPs are conveyor belts to get questions from the people to the parliament. If the Modi government hopes that by shutting me up it can forget the Adani issue, then it is mistaken.”
The ousted member was accompanied by top Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party and TMC leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Danish Ali and others.
