“I will fight you for the next 30 years…”, TMC MP Mahua Moitra challenges the BJP Government after her expulsion from the Parliament over the “cash-for-query” allegations

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has been expelled from the Lok Sabha on Friday over the “cash-for-query” allegations flagged against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. The 495 page Ethics Committee Report was tabled in the Lok Sabha. Discussion ensued over the recommendation of the Parliamentary body that “Mahua may be expelled”, and the TMC MP was expelled from the Parliament after the majority of the House voted in favor of her removal. "I am 49 years old, I will fight you for the next 30 years, inside parliament, outside parliament, in the gutter, on the street," said Mahua Moitra outside the Parliament, as she was denied the right to defend herself inside the House.

“The Lok Sabha has presided over the most tenacious witch-hunt of one of the 78 MPs, a first-timer, a single woman, with no political lineage... This Lok Sabha has also seen the weaponisation of a parliamentary committee," said a furious Mahua Moitra outside the Parliament after being denied the right to speak inside. The TMC MP took a jibe at the proceedings of the ethics committee stated that a Parliamentary Committee set up to serve as a moral compass for members has been ‘abused’ to ‘bulldoze the opposition.’ "I am 49 years old; I will fight you for the next 30 years, inside parliament, outside parliament, in the gutter, on the street," asserted Mahua Moitra, challenging the union government. Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was seen standing with Mahua, in support of the MP.

The discussion over the “cash-for-query” allegations was kick-started by Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury who requested the Speaker to give the Opposition 3-4 days to go through the report and then come back for deliberation, as it is ‘humanly not possible’ to go through a 495-page report in 2 hours. “The report was tabled at noon. The report has 106 pages and including the other annexes, there is a total of 495 pages report. How is it humanly possible to read 495 pages? How do we find out if there are lapses in the report? Allow us 3-4 days to go through the report. When the parliament is trying to create precedence then not should be an exemplary one. Even courts permit death penalty convicts to express his or her opinions. If the house acts in haste today, the parliament will be tarnished,” said the Congress leader.

Much like Adhir Chowdhury, Congress leader Manish Tiwari came out in support of the TMC MP and asserted that the Ethics Committee does to have the authority to dictate the quantum of punishment. “The ethics committee may make recommendations as to whether a person is guilty or innocent but the ethics committee can’t decide what punishment should be given. The recommendations of the ethics committee are fundamentally wrong. The house is the judge and jury. This is a complete travesty of justice,” said Tiwari stating that the recommendation made by the Ethics Committee is ‘fundamentally wrong.’

“In 2005, the 10 MPs were expelled on the same day the report was presented in the Parliament,” said Dr Heena Gavit of BJP countering the arguments of both Congress leaders drawing inferences with the 2005 cash-for-question case. “61 questions were asked by Mahua Moitra. 50 out of the 61 questions raised were in connection to the 5 sectors that Hiranandani deals in. 47 times her account was accessed from outside the country, Hiranandani has given an affidavit. You are breaking the rule. Her account was accessed from 4 different places. Owing to Mahua’s unethical conduct, the images of all the MPs have been maligned,” she added.

“I propose my party’s spokesperson will be Mahua Moitra,” said senior TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay pleading with the speaker to give Mahua Moitra some time to defend herself against the charges leveled against her. Bandyopadhyay also alleged that the Ethics Committee released the report to the media. “What’s the harm in listening to her (Mahua)? Before you expel her, give her a chance to speak,” he added.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla rejected his appeal and maintained that the ‘parampara’ (tradition) of following past instances has always been maintained in the house, and therefore, a clear shift from the narrative will not be allowed.

Leaders of the Trinamool Congress as well as several other Opposition leaders unanimously rallied for a sliver of the allotted time for discussion to be given to Moitra for her to elucidate her stance. “The fair trial will happen only when the affected person is heard. We are deciding the rights of a person. It is like a quasi-judicial proceeding. Thus, the affected person should be heard,” said TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee. However, Mahua Moitra was not given any time to speak, and a resolution was passed based on the majority of the Lok Sabha, expelling her from the Parliament.

West Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamta Banerjee came out in support of the Krishnanagar MP, moments after her expulsion from the Parliament. “The party is with Mahua, this expulsion is a clear example of BJP’s vendetta politics,” said the TMC Supremo. Several other leaders have followed suit and extended their support to the TMC MP.​