Parliament Winter Session LIVE: Lok Sabha expels Mahua Moitra by voting on Ethics panel report

Reacting on the expulsion for Mahua Moitra from the Parliament, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram termed the event as “unfortunate”. He claimed that the house relied on the “erroneous report” that has “no legal basis”.

He further claimed that the report has violated “every principle of natural justice” and “procedure of evidence”.

On Mahua Moitra's expulsion from the Lok Sabha, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that this is a "sad day" for Indian parliamentary democracy. She added that Mahua was not given a chance to explain her stand, PTI reported.

"This is unacceptable," the Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister added, “We condemn expulsion of TMC MP Mahua Moitra from Lok Sabha; party stands with her.” 
 

Union Parliamentary Affairs minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday said that Mahua Moitra should show some remorse over her expulsion from the Lok Sabha, instead she is challenging the decision of the Parliament. He said, “It has been proven that she has travelled for more than 36 times to a foreign destiny and her journey was sponsored by Hiranandani.” He questioned Moitra, “What is this attitude.” 

He added that she has accepted that she was gifted with scarf worth Rs 2 lakh. Hiranandani has accepted that her tour/vacation was sponsored, he further stated. 

“I am sure many TMC leaders are very happy with Mahua's expulsion,” he stated. 
 

Reacting on the TMC leader Mahua Moitra on her expulsion from the Parliament, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that this is the “vendetta politics” by the BJP. Attacking BJP, she said that the BJP has "killed the democracy" and that it is “injustice”. She exuded confidence that Moitra will win this battle and that people will do the justice. She challenged BJP stating that it will lose next elections. 

After getting expelled from the Lok Sabha in the Cash For Query case , TMC leader Mahua Moitra gave a fierce speech to the media persons outside the Parliament. She warned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that its end is near. 

She added, "if the Modi government thought that by shutting me up they could do away with the Adani issue, let me tell you that this kangaroo court has only shown to all of India that the haste and abuse of due process you have used demonstrates how important Adani is to you."  

She further questioned BJP stating, "And to what length you will go to harass a single woman MP into shutting her into submission." 

"The Ethics Committee has no power to expel.. This is the beginning of your end," Moitra stated

Opposition members staged a walkout from Lok Sabha as the House voted to expel TMC MP Mahua Moitra for 'unethical conduct'

The Lok Sabha on Friday expelled TMC MP Mahua Moitra by voting on the Ethics panel report, which recommended her expulsion. 

As Opposition MPs demand that Mahua Moitra be allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla explained that why it cannot be done. He said, "I have a copy of the traditions that were followed earlier. Former Speakers Somnath Chatterjee and Pranab Mukherjee were here earlier...The rules and traditions that they gave are considered our rules. Somnath Chatterjee had said that the Members against whom there are accusations are given ample time to speak before the Committee...This House has the tradition that the traditions followed by the previous Speakers are always further followed by the next Speakers..."

"Mahua Moitra has the right to cross-examine, she should be given a right to defend herself. This is a violation of the principles of natural justice. Hiranandani has not been examined at all. According to the report, cash has been taken, whether is the proof? This House does not have the power to remove someone as a member of the house..." says TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee. 
 

As the Lok Sabha discusses the report on Mahua Moitra, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said that the committee probing the cash-for-query charges on the MPs in 2005, examined all the figures involved in the case. “But in the Mahua Moitra case, Darshan Hiranandani was not examined by the Ethics panel before they recommended TMC MPs expulsion," said TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee.

As the Lok Sabha discusses the report, TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay requests that Mahua Moitra be allowed to present her side before the House. He said, "...What I propose - my party's spokesperson will be Mahua Moitra herself because the allegation is against her. Wild allegations have been raised. Whether it is true or wrong, let it be spoken by her..."

However, the Lok Sabha Speaker invoked established rules and precedents, rejecting the opposition's appeal to allow Mahua Moitra to address her case.

We need 2 days to analyse the report...Can the procedure of the ethics committee override the fundamental principles of natural justice? The ethics committee can recommend whether the person is guilty or the person is innocent but cannot recommend the quantum of punishment: Congress' Manish Tewari makes a statement on Mahua Moitra report in Lok Sabha. 
 

Opposition members said they have not received copies of the Ethics Committee report on the 'cash-for-query' complaint against Mahua Moitra. “Surprisingly, the report was tabled at noon and the debate was called at 2 pm. Heavens would not have fallen if we would have got 3-4 days to read the report and debate,” said Manish Tewari, Congress MP, during a debate on the Mahua report, in Lok Sabha. 

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla over the Ethics Committee report on TMC MP Mahua Moitra.

The letter reads, "I would request that Members may be given sufficient time of 3-4 days at least to study the report and prepare themselves for the discussion in the House. I would therefore request you to fix a day and time at least 3 days from now, for taking up the discussion in the Ethics Committee Report."

Parliament Winter Session LIVE: The Lok Sabha has been allotted 30 minutes to debate the Ethics panel report on TMC MP Mahua Moitra, seeking her expulsion from the Parliament over cash-for-query allegations. 

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid ruckus in the House soon after the Ethics Committee report on TMC MP Mahua Moitra was tabled.

Ethics Committee report on TMC MP Mahua Moitra tabled in Lok Sabha today by BJP's Vijay Sonkar.

On Ethics Panel report on TMC MP Mahua Moitra to be tabled in Lok Sabha today, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram says, "This is a misadventure on the part of the Government. If they indulge in this misadventure, all I can say is that they are going to add 50,000 extra votes to Mahua in re-election in 2024...I don't think it has been a fair and equitable procedure...We want her to continue in the Parliament. This is a normal style of the BJP to silence voices against it, this is yet another attempt. Of course, we are opposing it."

TMC leader and MP Mahua Moitra, facing expulsion threat in the alleged cash-for-query case, reached the Parliament on Friday, and said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has started 'vastraharan' and that the opposition is ready for 'Mahabharat'.

Daring BJP for faceoff in the Parliament, she said, “Maa Durga aa gayi hai, ab dekhenge...Jab naash manuj par chhata hai, pehle vivek mar jaata hai. They have started 'vastraharan' and now you will watch 'Mahabharat ka rann'.”

On the Ethics Panel report on TMC MP Mahua Moitra to be tabled in Lok Sabha today, Congress Lok Sabha Chief Whip K Suresh said, "Today, Ethics Committee report is being tabled. It is already included in the List of Business in Lok Sabha. Let us see what report are they going to table in the House. If the report states expulsion of TMC MP Mahua Moitra, we will oppose it tooth and nail..."

Congress MP Manickam Tagore gave an adjournment motion notice to discuss the condition of Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu and sought directions to the Central Government for immediate action to release a minimum of Rs 5,100 crore to facilitate comprehensive and effective relief efforts.

Parliament Winter Session LIVE: Ethics Panel report on TMC MP Mahua Moitra to be tabled in the Lok Sabha today.