The ongoing exchange of words between Nishikant Dubey and Mahua Moitra reached a higher intensity as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader took another dig at Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, playfully referring to her as "Dubai didi" in the context of the cash-for-query controversy.
In response to Mahua Moitra's reply to the Parliament ethics panel's summons, wherein she requested additional time to appear before it due to her prior commitments in West Bengal until November 4, Nishikant Dubey, the BJP MP, also highlighted that witnesses are safeguarded from "court-kachehri" (legal proceedings).
"Dubai didi has sought cross-examination of some people. Under the Lok Sabha rules, especially referencing page 246 of the Kaul-Shakdher book, witnesses are protected from court proceedings and legal hassles. What Dubai didi says holds true. When it comes to matters of national security and corruption, this is where the groundwork is being laid," Nishikant Dubey said in a tweet in Hindi.
Moreover, while gently jesting Mahua Moitra for what seemed to be a typographical error, Dubey noted that the TMC leader was so "intoxicated with Dubai" that she inadvertently misspelled his name in the letter as 'Dubai' instead of 'Dubey'.
"The accused MP is so intoxicated with Dubai that even my name has been changed to Dubai in the letter written to the Chairman of the Ethics Committee. 'Mohtarma' (Madam) has described her mental condition by changing my name to 'Dubai'. Oh my fate," he added.
Earlier in the day, in her response to the Lok Sabha ethics panel's summons, Mahua Moitra requested for additional time to appear before it due to her commitments in West Bengal until November 4. The panel is investigating Nishikant Dubey's allegations of cash-for-query against Mahua Moitra.
"I represent the state of West Bengal where Durga Puja is the biggest festival. I am already committed to attending numerous pre-scheduled Vijaya Dashami Sammelans/meetings (both government and political) in my constituency from 30th October to 4th November 2023 and cannot be in Delhi on 31st October 2023," the letter by Mahua Moitra read.
In light of businessman Darshan Hiranandani's affidavit, in which he asserted that she received expensive gifts and home renovations in exchange for raising parliamentary questions, Moitra insisted that the panel summons him for a deposition.
"An affidavit notarized at the Indian High Commission in Dubai on 20/10/2023 was submitted on a suo moto basis to the Committee and released publicly to the media by Shri Darshan Hiranandani. Shri Hiranandani in a public interview expressed his willingness to appear before the committee. His affidavit available in the public domain is extremely scant on detail and provides no actual inventory of what he has allegedly given me," Moitra wrote.
"Given the seriousness of the allegations and in keeping with the principles of natural justice, it is imperative that I am allowed to exercise my right to cross-examine Shri Hiranandani," the letter further stated.
