'Dubai Didi': BJP MP Dubey Takes A Dig At Mahua Moitra Over Cross-Examination Demand

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday once against attacked TMC MP Mahua Moitra over the cash-for-query allegation as he called the latter "Dubai didi".

In response to Moitra's reply to the Parliamentary Ethics Committee, where she requested cross-examining businessman Darshan Hiranandani, the BJP MP stated that, as per regulations, witnesses are shielded from "court-kachehri" (legal proceedings).

"Dubai Didi asked some people for a cross examination. Under the rules of Lok Sabha, especially page 246 of the Kaul-Shakdher book, the witness is protected from court proceedings and its hue and cry... Answers are needed on the question of (hampering) national security and corruption; here we are prepared for the fight," he said on X in Hindi.

Making a subtle dig at Moitra, seemingly in light of a typographical error, he said Moitra was so "intoxicated with Dubai" that she misspelt his name in the letter as 'Dubai' instead of 'Dubey'.

"The accused MP is so intoxicated by Dubai that even my name has been changed to Dubai in the letter written to the Chairman of the Ethics Committee. 'Mohtarma' has described her mental condition by changing my name to Dubey, oh my fate?" he stated.

A day after the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha called Mahua Moitra to appear before it on October 31, the TMC MP sought more time. The committee has summoned Mahua Moitra over allegations against her in the cash-for-query scandal.

"Chairman, Ethics Committee announced my 31/10 summons on live TV way before an official letter emailed to me at 19:20 hrs. All complaints and suo moto affidavits were also released to the media. I look forward to deposing immediately after my pre-scheduled constituency programmes end on November 4," the TMC MP posted on X.

The TMC MP also wrote a letter to the Chairman of the Ethics Committee and requested more time to appear before the committee. "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 October 30 to November 4, 2023, and cannot be in Delhi on October 31, 2023," the TMC MP said in the letter.

"Therefore, I request to be given time to appear in person before the committee at any date and time of the Committee's choice after November 5, 2023," she added.

Darshan Hiranandani, the CEO of real estate-to-energy group Hiranandani, who allegedly paid Mahua Moitra to raise questions in Parliament about Adani Group, had earlier claimed that the TMC leader targeted Gautam Adani to "malign and embrass" Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose impeccable reputation gave opposition no opportunity to attack him.

In a signed affidavit, a copy of which was reviewed by PTI, Hiranandani admitted at using Moitra's Parliamentary login to ask questions targeting Adani after state-owned behemoth Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) booked capacity at the Gujarat-based conglomerate's Dhamra LNG import facility in Odisha and not at his firm's planned facility.