“This is Parliament, not a court…! -When Speaker Birla got angry at Manish Tiwari
Highlights:
- Moitra accepts luxury gifts and services from businessman.
- Speaker Birla slams Tiwari for comparing Parliament to court.
- Opposition demands discussion and division of votes.
- BJP issues three-line whip to MPs, expulsion likely.
- Moitra remains defiant, vows to fight back.
A political storm erupted in the Lok Sabha today as the Ethics Committee recommended the expulsion of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra for accepting bribes, including luxury gifts and services, from businessman Darshan Hiranandani.
The 500-page report presented to the House painted a damning picture, accusing Moitra of “unethical conduct” and “serious misdemeanours that call for severe punishment.” It cited Hiranandani’s statement detailing gifts like “luxury items,” the use of a car, and support for renovating her official bungalow.
The report further declared Moitra’s act of handing over her parliamentary log-in details to Hiranandani “a quid pro quo… unbecoming of an MP.”
Speaker Om Birla intervened during the ensuing debate, reprimanding Congress MP Manish Tiwari for drawing parallels between the Parliament and a court. Birla asserted, “This is Parliament, not a court. We take collective decisions here.”
The opposition demanded a detailed discussion and a division of votes on the motion to expel Moitra. However, with the BJP holding a significant majority and issuing a three-line whip to its MPs, her expulsion seems inevitable.
Undeterred, Moitra displayed characteristic defiance, entering Parliament and declaring, “Maa Durga aa gayi hai, ab dekhenge…Jab naash manushya par chhata hai, pehle vivek mar jaata hai (Maa Durga has come! Now we will see… when destruction comes, conscience dies first).”
She promised to fight back, stating, “They have started… and now you will watch ‘Mahabharat ka rann (battlefield)’.”
Moitra’s expulsion, if approved, will mark a significant development in the ongoing political drama, adding fuel to the fire of opposition criticism against the ruling BJP. The battle lines are drawn, and the stage is set for a high-voltage clash in the days ahead.
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