Mahua Moitra "Took Bribes" To Ask Questions In Parliament, Claims BJP MP
New Delhi: The BJP's Nishikant Dubey has demanded immediate suspension of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, alleging that she "took bribes to ask questions" in parliament from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to target the Adani group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Dubey has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accusing Ms Moitra of breach of parliamentary privilege, contempt of House and criminal conspiracy.
Ms Moitra has said she welcomes any kind of inquiry.
The Hiranandani Group also rubbished the allegations, saying they have "no merit". "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," said a spokesperson of the Hiranandani Group.
The Hiranandani Group had lost energy and infra contract to the Adani Group and Ms Moitra's questions were directed at perpetuating the business interests of the former, Mr Dubey has indicated in his letter to Mr Birla.
He claimed that Mr Hiranandani has paid ₹ 2 crore and gifts like expensive i-phone to the Trinamool MP and has given her ₹ 75 lakh to contest elections.
Between 2019 and 2023, fifty of the 61 questions asked by the MP were at the behest of Darshan Hiranandani, Mr Dubey has alleged. The MP had given the businessman access to her Lok Sabha account where the questions were posted directly by Mr Hiranandani or Ms Moitra on his behest, his letter claimed, citing "painstaking research" done by advocate Jai Anand Dehadrai. The advocate has approached the CBI with some of his allegations.
Ms Moitra has asked questions on oil and gas supply from Paradip, Dhamra Port, urea subsidy, steel prices affecting real estate and the powers of the Income Tax Department, he alleged, adding that the Opposition parties took their cue from her.
In his letter, he has also referred to the cash for questions scam that made headlines in 2005, in which 11 MPS were suspended in a "record time of 23 days" and added that the current situation is no more than a "re-emergence of the cash for query".
Ms Moitra, he added, should be suspended immediately from the House pending an inquiry.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
