MP Mahua Moitra expelled from Indian parliament over cash for query charges

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra has been expelled from the Lok Sabha following an Ethics Committee report into the “cash for query” charges against her.

Moitra, 49, was accused of taking bribes, including Rs2 crore (Rs20 million) in cash and "luxury gift items," from businessman Darshan Hiranandani, in exchange for asking questions critical of the government in parliament.

Moitra was also accused of surrendering log-in credentials to her personal and confidential account on the parliamentary website, so Hiranandani could post questions directly.

A fiery critic of the Modi government, Moitra had denied the bribery charges but admitted to sharing the log-in details.

After a tempestuous discussion and voice vote, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, "This House accepts the conclusions of the Committee — that MP Mahua Moitra's conduct was immoral and indecent. So, it is not appropriate for her to continue as an MP..."

Moitra lashed out at the government, saying that the Ethics Committee has no power to expel and this is the beginning of the BJP's end.

She also said that she is 49 years old now and she will fight the BJP inside and outside parliament for the next 30 years. Moitra made the remarks after her expulsion from the Lok Sabha.

Moitra said: "There is no evidence or any cash, any gifts any where. Expulsion is based on the ground that I have shared my Lok Sabha portal login. There are no rules to govern the share of the login.

"As the hearing of the Ethics Committee demonstrates, all of us MPs are conveyor belts to get questions from the public, from citizens to voice that in Parliament."

She also said that "tomorrow, the CBI will be sent to my House and I will harassed and will be harassed for next six months."

"I am 49 years old and I will fight you for next 30 years inside and outside Parliament. The Ethics Committee has no power to expel. You have assumed the power of the quasi authority.

"You have disregarded due process, and abused every tenet. This is the beginning of your (BJP) end. We are going to come back and we are going to see the end of yours (BJP)," Moitra said.

Following the expulsion of Moitra, opposition MPs, including CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, staged a walkout from the House.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also Moitra's party boss, called the expulsion "unacceptable" and said that "vendetta politics of (the) BJP had killed democracy."

"Mahua will win the battle.... people will give justice. They (BJP) will be defeated in the next election," Banerjee said, drawing battle-lines (if more were needed) before next year's general election.