NEW DELHI: In a recent development, the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee has decided to postpone its meeting to adopt a draft report concerning allegations related to the cash-for-query case involving Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra. Originally scheduled for November 7, the meeting is now rescheduled to November 9, as announced by a notice from the Lok Sabha secretariat. However, no official reason has been provided for the rescheduling of the meeting.
The postponement of the meeting signifies that the committee, led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar, has concluded its inquiry and is now prepared to make its recommendations. During their last deliberations on November 2, committee members from various political parties had gathered to discuss the case.
Notably, BJP members hold a majority in the 15-member committee, which could potentially impact the outcome of the investigation. Mahua Moitra's accusation against Sonkar, claiming that he posed inappropriate and personal questions to her during the last meeting, has further escalated tensions. In response to this, she and other opposition members walked out of the meeting in anger. There is speculation that the committee may recommend actions against Moitra in its report to Speaker Om Birla, possibly accompanied by dissenting notes from opposition members.
The November 2 meeting saw all five opposition members exiting the proceedings, alleging that Sonkar had posed indecent and personal questions about Moitra's travels, hotel stays, and telephone calls. Moitra later stated that she felt subjected to a "proverbial vastraharan" during the meeting. In response, the committee's chairperson dismissed these claims as unethical conduct aimed at protecting Moitra. It is anticipated that Moitra's decision to leave the meeting, given her status as the subject of inquiry rather than a committee member, will be closely scrutinized in the final report.
On the other side of the controversy, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has accused Moitra of raising questions in the Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for bribes. Dubey alleged that Hiranandani used Moitra's login to submit questions from various locations, primarily in Dubai. Moitra has acknowledged that her login details were utilized but vehemently denied any financial gain, asserting that sharing login credentials with other MPs is a common practice.
This delay in the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee's proceedings has added to the intrigue surrounding the case, and the eventual report's recommendations will be closely watched by political observers and the public alike.
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