The ‘cash for query’ allegation raised against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra by a BJP leader has stirred up a political storm with the saffron party demanding an investigation into the matter.
In a sensational allegation, BJP’s Nishikant Dubey on Sunday claimed that Moitra had taken “bribes” from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions in parliament.
BJP West Bengal General Secretary and Asansol South MLA Agnimitra Paul said if the charges are proven, Moitra should be expelled from her MP’s post.
“We want to know if Mahua Moitra has taken bribe. Let there be an inquiry and if it is proved, let her be expelled from the MP's post. We want an investigation," Paul said.
The Congress, however, dismissed the allegations as BJP’s gimmicks to defame the opposition.
"They are nothing but BJP's gimmicks to defame the opposition. They are misusing their majority and creating an atmosphere of terror,” Congress leader Harish Rawat told news agency ANI.
Accusing the BJP of misusing the power of majority, Rawat challenged the ruling party to suspend all members of the opposition from Lok Sabha.
“Who is Nishikant Dubey? If any investigating agency finds any facts, the institution will investigate it automatically. They just want to misuse the power of the majority. Speaker is an institution in itself. This is not an acceptable behaviour," Rawat said.
Earlier in the day, Dubey wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accusing Moitra of breach of parliamentary privilege and demanding her immediate suspension from house.
The BJP MP claimed that Hiranandani had paid Rs 2 crore and gifts like expensive i-phone to the Trinamool MP and had also given her Rs 75 lakh to contest elections.
Out of the 61 questions Moitra had raised in parliament recently, 50 were seeking information “with the intent of protecting or perpetuating business interests of Darshan Hiranandani and his company”, Dubey claimed in his letter.
He further alleged that the questions were often focused on the Adani Group, another business conglomerate, “Hiranandani Group was bidding for business against".
Responding to the BJP MP’s allegation, Moitra said she welcomes any enquiry against her.
“Multiple breach of privileges pending against fake degreewala and other BJP luminaries. Welcome any motions against me right after Speaker finishes dealing with those,” Moitra said in a post on X.
She also demanded that the Enforcement Directorate and other agencies file an FIR in Adani coal scam before coming to her doorstep.
The Hiranandani Group has also dismissed Dubey’s allegation, saying they were not in the “business of politics”.
"We have always been in the business of business and not in the business of politics. Our group has always worked with the government in the interest of the nation and will continue doing so," a Group spokesperson was quoted as saying by NDTV.
