Following Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra's decision to leave the parliamentary Ethics Panel meeting related to the cash-for-query issue, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey claimed that Moitra had created her own version of the cross-examination session.
Nishikant Dubey, who initiated the charges against Moitra, pointed out that he and Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai appeared as witnesses, while Moitra attended as an accused. However, Moitra gave interviews and recounted what transpired within the ethics committee, attempting to establish a false narrative in public. He expressed his discontent, describing the day as one of the darkest in parliamentary history.
Jai Dehadrai, as per Nishikant Dubey, claimed to possess "irrefutable" evidence of bribes provided to Moitra. Dubey dismissed Moitra's claims that the panel posed "filthy and undignified" questions, insisting he had sufficient evidence to demonstrate that Moitra violated parliamentary protocols.
The Chairman of the Parliament Ethics Committee, Vinod Sonkar, mentioned that Moitra did not cooperate during her cross-examination and left to avoid addressing questions about the matter. He also added that other opposition MPs joined Moitra in accusing the committee and subsequently walked out. The committee will convene to determine further action.
Furthermore, Aparajita Sarangi, BJP MP from Bhubaneswar and a member of the panel, criticized Moitra for her conduct during the meeting. She said that Moitra became furious when questions were raised about an affidavit. Sarangi described Moitra as aggressive, rude, defensive, and arrogant during the session. Sarangi highlighted that committee proceedings should remain confidential and that discussing developments outside the committee was inappropriate and a violation of the constitutional process.
In response to the situation, Mahua Moitra expressed her dissatisfaction with the questions posed during the cross-examination, describing them as "filthy" and read from a script. She felt that they were targeting her and her interactions, suggesting that they asked invasive questions about her personal life, such as who she talks to at night.
During her walkout, Mahua Moitra was accompanied by BSP's Danish Ali, who echoed her sentiments about the panel's line of questioning. Ali claimed that the panel inquired about her nighttime conversations and the content of those discussions.
