The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday raised concerns over the urgency displayed by the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee in its investigation into the "cash-for-query" row, especially regarding the summons issued to TMC MP Mahua Moitra. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh questioned the need for haste and suggested that the committee should exercise patience. He asserted that Moitra had not refused to cooperate but had requested the hearing be scheduled after November 5, owing to her prior commitments during the Puja month.


"Mahua Moitra is an MP, right now it is Puja month and she has prefixed programmes. She didn't say that she would not cooperate, she only told (to call) after (November) 5th. The ethics committee should wait for two or three days, why this kind of hurry? If in the case of Mahua Moitra, we can see this kind of hurry, what about Suvendu Adhikari?"


"As he has joined the BJP, they are sleeping on the matter related to Suvendu Adhikari which has been pending for six years after the CBI filed a case against him. In a politically motivated way, they are trying to create pressure on Mahua Moitra," Ghosh opined that the panel's approach seemed "politically motivated", with the intent of pressuring Moitra.



In response to the TMC's concerns, the BJP emphasised the gravity of the allegations against Mahua Moitra.


"When the Ethics Committee has called her, she should go. The allegation against her is huge, she not only gave her login password but gave it to a businessman. She gave it to Hiranandani's owner and she targetted another business house. This is a case of breach of privilege and she should face the punishment for it," Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said.



The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee had initially summoned Mahua Moitra for October 31 in connection with the cash-for-query case. However, Moitra expressed her unavailability for the scheduled date and requested a hearing after November 5. In response, the committee extended the date for her appearance by three days, now slated for November 2, news agency PTI reported. Importantly, the committee conveyed that no further extensions would be entertained.


The investigation revolves around allegations made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who claims that Moitra accepted bribes and offered favors in exchange for posing questions in the Lok Sabha, all allegedly at the behest of businessman Hiranandani. In a significant development, Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai provided oral evidence to the committee against Mahua Moitra.


ALSO READ | Cash-For-Query Row: Lok Sabha Panel Refuses Extension, Asks Mahua Moitra To Appear On Nov 2


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