LS ethics panel recommends expulsion of Mahua Moitra

New Delhi, Nov 9: The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on Thursday recommended the expulsion of TMC MP Mahua Moitra from the House in the ‘cash-for-query’ matter, capping a fortnight of actions that included deposition of three persons over three sittings.
The committee, chaired by BJP Lok Sabha member Vinod Kumar Sonkar, met here and adopted its 479-page report which, according to sources, recommended Moitra’s expulsion, possibly first such action against an MP by the panel.
Committee chairman Sonkar told reporters that six members of the panel supported adoption of the report and four opposed it.
In her first reaction to PTI after the Lok Sabha panel recommendation, Moitra said this was a “pre-fixed match by a kangaroo court” and added, “Even if they expel me, I will be back in the next Lok Sabha with a bigger mandate.” The ethics panel report will now be tabled in the Lok Sabha which will then vote on a motion to put the recommendation into action.
During the next session of Parliament, the committee chairman will table the report in the House and thereafter there will be a debate on it, followed by a vote on a government motion for the member’s expulsion, Achary said.
The ruling TMC on Thursday came out in strong support of its MP, with party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee claiming that whoever questioned the government was “harassed” by the BJP-led NDA dispensation at the Centre.
Banerjee, who was speaking to reporters after appearing before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an ongoing probe into the alleged school jobs scam in the state, also questioned how a parliamentary committee could consider acting against her even before accusations against Moitra were proven.
The TMC, while supporting Moitra, till now has had a hands-off approach and at one stage even said it would await the Ethics committee’s report on the issue.
Banerjee’s unequivocal support today seems to indicate the regional party will put all its weight behind her in the battle ahead for the MP. (PTI)