Sagarika Mitra, Content Head of JAN KI BAAT, describes the events that unfolded as Mahua Moitra faced the Ethics Committee in connection with Cash For Query scam
This morning at 10.54 am, TMC MP Mahua Moitra appeared before the Parliament Ethics Committee, setting the stage for a dramatic day. Clad in a striking red saree, Moitra made a rather attention seeking entrance, carrying an array of luxury bags, beauty products, and various other items – a move that seemingly signalled her defiant attitude.
The situation escalated after 5 hours. At around 3.30 pm, high drama unfolded within the Parliament premises, with Opposition party MPs, including Mahua Moitra and BSP MP Danish Ali, staging a walkout from the Ethics Committee meeting. The incident was marked by fiery exchanges and harsh accusations, leaving journalists present there astounded by the intensity of the confrontation.
A visibly angry Mahua Moitra was captured on camera, shouting, “Is this an Ethics Committee? He’s reading from a script, asking all sorts of filthy questions.”
Accompanying Mahua Moitra in her protest were other Opposition MPs, including Janata Dal (United) MP Giridhari Yadav, Congress MP Uttam Kumar Reddy, BSP MP Danish Ali, Congress MP Vaithalingam, and CPM MP Natarajan. According to them, Moitra was subjected to a barrage of ‘intrusive and personal questions’
As per Opposition MPs who staged a walk out along with Mahua Moitra, questions raised during the meeting included details about her travel, her meetings, phone records, conversation topics, frequency of communication, hotel stays, and travel expenses. These inquiries, according to the protesting MPs, crossed the line into personal and unethical territory.
‘Personal questions like where were you travelling? Who were you meeting? Can you give your phone records? What time were you talking to them? What were you talking about? How many times did you speak to them? Who did you stay with in hotels? Who paid for your travel? It was akin to Draupadi ka cheer haran’, said BSP MP Danish Ali who came out in vehement support of Mahua Moitra.
The TMC MP was also seen lashing out at a journalist in the premises of Parliament, when he asked her if she was in tears. She hit back by shouting at him, saying – ‘There are no tears in my eyes, what rubbish are you talking about? Where are tears in my eyes? You’re making up any rubbish? You see my eyes (stretches her eyes), are there any tears in it? What are you making up s*** for’
Moments later, Chairman of the Parliament Ethics Committee, Vinod Sonkar, responded to the allegations, stating, ‘Instead of giving answers, she (Mahua Moitra) got angry and used unparliamentary language for the Chairperson and Committee members. Danish Ali, Giridhari Yadav, and other opposition MPs tried to accuse the committee and walked out… The committee will sit and decide the further action.”
Following the tumultuous events in the meeting, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi also expressed her disapproval of Mahua Moitra’s conduct, emphasising the confidential nature of the Parliamentary Standing Committee proceedings. Sarangi noted, ‘The conduct of Mahua Moitra was condemnable. She used unparliamentary words for our chairman and for all the members of the committee.’
TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s abusive and aggressive behaviour has added a fresh layer to the case. Was Mahua Moitra’s reaction an attempt to distract from the serious allegations of ‘Cash For Query’ levelled against her? Sources say she reacted aggressively when she was asked specific questions on the basis of real estate tycoon Darshan Hiranandani’s sworn affidavit against her in the case. He admitted that she gave him her parliamentary login credentials and also that he gave her expensive luxury items on multiple occasions.
Mahua Moitra who is accused of breaching the Indian parliament today with her unwarranted behaviour stands accused of jeopardising the sanctity of parliamentary procedures. The alleged use of unparliamentary language and the accusations of unethical questioning have certainly sparked a heated debate. But one mustn’t forget that this is a case involving a parliamentarian who is accused of breaching the Indian Parliament by sharing her login details with a business tycoon who then allegedly accessed it 47 times from Dubai.
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