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Responding to Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra's allegations that "personal questions" were asked during the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee meeting, West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja strongly criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for being a "silent spectator".
While slamming BJP, Panja made reference to the epic Mahabharat and stated that while the members on the panel were enjoying like "Duryodhan", the Chairman was sitting like "Dhritarashtra". Further attacking the BJP for giving hollow statements on women empowerment, the minister said the panel insulted an elected woman MP during a hearing on the cash-for-query allegations against her. "The BJP gives such tall lectures on women empowerment and security of women. But today the BJP members in the panel, as well as the central ministers, were sitting like Duryadhan and the chairman was sitting like blind Dhritarashtra and they were all enjoying when Mahua Moitra was being asked personal questions," Panja said in a press conference. Mahua Moitra, who appeared before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee over cash-for-query allegations against her, walked out of the meeting along with opposition members of the panel on Thursday afternoon. Opposition members raised questions over the line of questioning and alleged that "personal questions" were posed to the Trinamool Congress MP. Among those who walked out were BSP MP Danish Ali, Janata Dal (United) MP Giridhari Yadav and Congress MP Uttam Kumar Reddy. Accusing the Ethics Panel of insulting an elected woman MP, the West Bengal Minister questioned whether it was an ethical or a "non-ethical" panel. "You have insulted an elected woman MP. This highlights your low mentality. Is this an Ethics Panel or a non-ethical panel?" Panja said. Lok Sabha Ethics Committee Chairperson Vinod Sonkar aid that "unparliamentary language" was used by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra against him and other members during cross-examination following her deposition before the panel over "cash-for-query" allegations levelled against her by BJP Nishikant Dubey. Sonkar also said that the committee will sit and decide further action. Sonkar rejected the allegations of opposition members."Instead of giving answers, she (Mahua Moitra) got angry and used unparliamentary language for the Chairperson, and Committee members. Danish Ali, Girdhari Yadav and other opposition MPs tried to accuse the committee and walked out.. The committee will sit and discuss," he said. Slamming the complainant Nishikanth Dubey for his concern on "national security", Panja questioned how the BJP, which has been accused of snooping on several individuals using Israeli spyware Pegasus, speak on national security. "The complainant, Nishikanth Dubey was speaking about national security. How can the BJP talk about national security? The people of India have not got any answers on Pegasus. Is this not an issue of national security? You have snooped on journalists, judges, MPs, leaders. The matter is going on in the Supreme Court," the Minister said. Reminding the BJP of the Apple notification sent to several opposition leaders, Panja said, "Just a few days back, Apple sent a notification warning several opposition leaders that their device may be subjected to snooping and their data may be under seizure. Today they are speaking on national security." Moitra is facing 'Cash for Query' charges made by Dubey, who alleged that the Trinamool MP had taken bribes from Dubai-based businessman Hiranandani to raise questions in Parliament to target the Adani Group. (ANI)
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