LS Ethics Panel adopts report on Mahua with 6:4 majority


With the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee adopting the report on the ‘cash-for-query’ charges against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, the leaders of several Opposition parties came out strongly in support of the TMC leader.

The meeting of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee which is investigating the cash-for-query allegations against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey was held on Thursday wherein it adopted the report with a 6:4 majority.

According to panel chairman Vinod Sonkar, six members of the committee supported the report, including Congress MP Preneet Kaur, while four members opposed it. He further said that the panel will submit a ‘detailed report’ to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday.

“The recommendation report by the Parliament Ethics Committee has been adopted by the Committee with a 6:4 majority. Congress MP Preneet Kaur is one of the six MPs who supported the draft. A detailed report is being submitted to the Lok Sabha Speaker tomorrow…The action, whatever it is, will be taken by the Speaker,” Sonkar said.

Notably, Preneet Kaur who is the wife of former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, is now in the BJP.

The Congress disciplinary committee in February this year suspended Preneet Kaur, who is the wife of former Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh for indulging in anti-party activities.

The Congress alleged that she was helping the BJP in the state. Her husband Amarinder Singh and daughter Jai Inder Kaur joined the BJP last year.

Nishikant Dubey backed Kaur’s decision against Moitra, calling the Congress MP ‘uncompromising’.

“Punjab has always stood for India’s identity and national security, today again Captain Amarinder Singh ji and Congress Party MP. Preneet Kaur ji did not make any compromise for national security. India was, is, and will always be grateful to the brave men of Punjab,” Dubey said on X.Aparajita Sarangi, a BJP MP and member of the Parliament Ethics Committee said that Kaur sided with the truth.

“(Congress MP) Preneet Kaur sided with the truth. I thank her for it. No right-thinking person would support Mahua Moitra,” she said.

Earlier last month, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against Moitra, accusing her of asking questions in Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts. Vinod Sonkar further said BSP MP Danish Ali submitted his dissent note.

“The report (on TMC MP Mahua Moitra) was adopted by majority vote and sent to the Lok Sabha Speaker. There were some people who wanted to obstruct the probe but today the report was adopted by a majority. Danish Ali, who had been trying to obstruct the probe, today submitted his dissent note,” he added.

The Committee, in its draft report, accused Moitra of being involved in ‘unethical conduct’ and sharing her ID login and password with unauthorised persons, sources said on Thursday.

“One common ground for all the opposition MPs to submit a dissent note is that the enquiry is not fair. They have said that Darshan Hiranandani should have been summoned by the committee to ensure a free and fair enquiry in all respects,” the sources said.