Lok Sabha Ethics Committee receives affidavit from Darshan Hiranandani against Mahua Moitra
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha ethics committee announced today that it has received an affidavit from industrialist Darshan Hiranandani, accusing Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra of accepting bribes to ask questions in Parliament. The committee confirmed its intention to conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations.
In his affidavit, Hiranandani alleged that Moitra frequently demanded favors from him, including expensive luxury items, and provided him with her Parliament login credentials. He also claimed that she viewed attacking the Adani Group as a means to gain fame.
The accusations were brought to light by BJP's Nishikant Dubey, who accused the Trinamool leader of breaching parliamentary privilege, contempt of the House, and criminal conspiracy, during a session presided over by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Vinod Sonkar, the head of the ethics committee, confirmed in an exclusive statement to NDTV, "We have received Darshan Hiranandani's affidavit. The committee will hear Mr. Dubey's complaint on October 26. He has been asked to present evidence in front of the committee."
Describing the allegations as extremely grave, Sonkar stated that the committee would thoroughly examine Dubey's letter and Hiranandani's affidavit. The committee also plans to hear Moitra's version, who has vehemently denied the charges and expressed her readiness for any inquiry.
"The allegations are very serious. The case has gone beyond the prima facie evidence which is why we are examining it," Sonkar emphasized.
In response to the accusations, Moitra, the Lok Sabha MP representing Krishnanagar in West Bengal, has sought a permanent injunction against Dubey, Dehadrai, social media platform X, search engine Google, and YouTube. She aims to restrain them from making, publishing, and circulating defamatory, false, and malicious statements against her.
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RSS' method is to make personal attacks, did so with Mahatma Gandhi as well: Rahul Gandhi
Araria (Bihar) (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that making personal attacks is the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's method of targeting anyone and it did so with Mahatma Gandhi as well.
Gandhi made the remarks at an interaction with Mahagathbandhan allies in Bihar, a video of which he posted on his X handle.
In the video, Gandhi is seen having tea at a dhaba here on Sunday with RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, CPI(ML)'s Dipankar Bhattacharya, Vikassheel Insaan Party's Mukesh Sahani, Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson Tushar Gandhi, Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Kumar and Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan.
"The RSS method of attacking is (making) personal attacks. They used to do it with Gandhi ji all the time. People don't know, don't remember the amount of abuse and defamation heaped on him (Gandhi) by the RSS. How much they lied about him, this is their style," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
Tushar Gandhi said that earlier debates used to be very strong and heated, but there was never personal abuse. "Now it has been legitimised," he said, to which Yadav added that it has started to happen after 2014.
"They abused Karpoori Thakur ji and then had to give him a Bharat Ratna," Yadav said.
Talking about the alleged "vote chori", Yadav said people would earlier say that they cast their vote but when the results came, they did not know where their vote had gone.
"Now, these things that are coming out with evidence and facts, people now know that theft is happening. The approach that the Election Commission has taken, people have got the message that the two (EC and the BJP) are in collusion. What (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji is saying, the Election commissioner is doing," the RJD leader said.
Echoing similar views, Sahani said that the people felt they voted for the INDIA bloc, but the result was opposite.
"Now that you (Rahul Gandhi) have brought out the facts, people know that something is wrong and Modi ji is doing some 'hera pheri'. Their (BJP's) voters have also started to believe so," the chief of VIP said.
Sahani and the Congress' Kumar and Khan hailed the Voter Adhikar Yatra and the enthusiasm among the people.
"People earlier never used to hit the road at 8 in the morning and we have also not done that, but it is happening here," Sahani said.
Posting the video of the interaction, Rahul Gandhi said on X, "Yatra, vote chori, and Gandhi ji -- a lively political discussion over hot tea and pakoras with coalition partners."
Gandhi launched the Voter Adhikar Yatra, supported by all Mahagathbandhan constituents, against the Election Commission's special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
The 16-day yatra, which began on August 17 from Sasaram, will conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1 before covering over 1,300 km across the state, where assembly elections are due later this year.
The yatra has so far covered Gayaji, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Katihar and Purnea districts. Further, it will pass through Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, West Champaran, Saran, Bhojpur and Patna districts.
