Lok Sabha expels Mahua Moitra amidst Opposition walk out
Though TMC had strongly argued to allow Ms. Moitra to speak on the floor of the House, Mr. Joshi quoted precedence to object. Speaker Om Birla put the resolution to vote without allowing her to speak. The Lok Sabha on December 8, 2023, expelled Trinamool Congress member Mahua Moitra over the “cash-for-query” allegation through a voice vote amid chaos.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi moved the motion to expel Ms. Moitra as per the recommendation of Ethics Committee report, which found her guilty of sharing her credentials with others, accepted gifts for favours from a businessman. Though Trinamool Congress had strongly argued to allow Mahua Moitra to speak on the floor of the House, Mr. Joshi quoted precedence to object. Speaker Om Birla put the resolution to vote without allowing her to speak. TMC fully supports Mahua Moitra: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extended support to TMC leader Mahua Moira and expressed surprise that Ms. Moitra was not allowed to defend herself. She also thanked parties in INDIA alliance for backing Ms. Moitra.

“Today I am really sad to see the attitude of BJP party. A 475 page report was submitted and after that they have half an hour time to go through it. I congratulate INDIA alliance that they supported her. Party fully supports Mahua Moitra. They didn’t allow Mahua to defend herself. It is betrayal of Constitutional rights. We have two third majority in Assembly does it mean we will expel someone,” said Ms. Banerjee.

“Mahua is a victim of circumstances and party is fully behind Mahua. I am shocked and it is sad day for Parliament. It is unacceptable and Mahua will win the battle. They will be defeated in next elections,” the TMC supremo added.

Give at least 48 hours to study ethics panel report on Mahua Moitra: TMC
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee had said the party has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him to give at least 48 hours to read the ethics panel report. However, the resolution was taken up for discussion after the House assembled after lunch.

The Lok Sabha witnessed two adjournments on Friday over the report amid Opposition protests.

Amid uproar, BJP member Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the chair, adjourned the proceedings till 2 p.m.

Businessman Darshan Hiranandani, who allegedly paid Ms. Moitra to raise questions in Parliament about the Adani Group, had claimed in a signed affidavit that Mahua Moitra targeted industrialist Gautam Adani to “malign and embarrass” Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

At a meeting on November 9, the Committee adopted its report recommending Ms. Moitra’s expulsion from the Lok Sabha over the “cash-for-query” allegation. Six members of the panel, including suspended Congress member Preneet Kaur, voted in favour of the report. Four members of the panel belonging to opposition parties submitted dissent notes.