Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has boldly opposed the Lok Sabha ethics committee’s reported recommendation for her removal which declares a plan involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Adani Group. Moitra contends that the committee’s action is a result of their attempt to cover what she terms a “coal scam.” In her view, the Adani Group and PM Modi are in a state of panic, fearing that such a claim could potentially collapse the government, as it might in other countries facing similar situations.
In an interview with PTI, Moitra highlighted that the 500-page report adopted by the panel on Thursday did not mention any involvement of “cash,” a point she believes destroyed the declaration against her. According to her, the Modi-Adani link is guiding the government and is determined to avoid study. Moitra claimed that the report, recommending her expulsion, is a strategic move to smoother objection and prevent the questioning of the government’s actions. She accuses the central government of utilizing the inauguration of Ayodhya’s Ram Temple as part of this plan, suggesting a coordinated effort to redirect attention.
Expressing defiance, Moitra considers her potential expulsion as a “badge of honour,” characterizing it as an unethical decision by the ethics committee. She contends that the committee, which has the authority to suspend but not reject, is acting beyond its jurisdiction. According to Moitra, the complainant failed to provide evidence, and other panel members did not question her, implying an influence and unfair process. Moitra also raised questions about the exclusion of businessman Darshan Hiranandani from the panel’s proceedings, and disliked his alleged involvement in bribery. She argued that Hiranandani, who admitted to having access to her parliamentary portal account and showering her with expensive gifts, should have been sent for questioning.
The argument stems from BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s claims, based on evidence from Moitra’s former friend Jai Anant Dehadrai, that Moitra accepted cash and gifts in exchange for posing questions in Parliament on behalf of Darshan Hiranandani. Moitra has opposed the bribery claim, asserting that she provided Hiranandani with her login credentials solely for the purpose of having his staff draft her questions. Moitra, having appeared before the ethics panel on November 2, accused the committee chairperson, BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar, of an unethical line of questioning, leading to her annoying out of the meeting. The ensuing claim of the use of unparliamentary language against Sonkar further deepened the controversy surrounding the ethics committee’s proceedings.
