It's A Terrible Travesty: Minister On Mahua Moitra 'Cash For Query' Row

Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday commented on the alleged "cash for questions" controversy involving Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, referring to a question she raised regarding reports of a government ban on 54 apps.

"I hv learnt from news reports that this Parliamentary Question was likely asked by a MP at the behest of a Data center company. If true this is indeed shocking and shameful," he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"It is true that this company was actively and aggressively lobbying for Data Localization. Language used in PQ is very similar (linking need for data localization to data breaches) to that used whn the head of this company met me. I am not aware or privy to the full facts or background on this - but if it is true then its a terrible travesty and misuse of PQs," he stated.

On Sunday, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused Trinamool Congress lawmaker Mahua Moitra of taking bribes from a businessman to raise questions in Parliament.

Dubey wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Birla under the subject "Re-emergence of nasty 'Cash for Query' in Parliament, Direct involvement of Smt. Mahua Moitra, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) for serious 'Breach of Privilege', 'Contempt of the House' and a 'Criminal Offence' under Section 120-A of IPC".

In his letter to the speaker, Dubey said 50 of 61 questions she asked in Lok Sabha till recently were focused on the Adani Group, the business conglomerate which the TMC MP has often accused of malpractices, more so after it was at the receiving end of a critical report of short-selling from Hindenburg.

Dubey urged Birla to constitute an "inquiry committee" into the charges against her.

"There is not an iota of doubt about a criminal conspiracy hatched by Mahua Moitra to garner and protect the business interests of a businessman - Shri Darshan Hiranandani - by asking Parliamentary Questions, which is reminiscent of 'Cash for Query' episode of 12 December, 2005," the BJP MP said.

In his fresh letter, the BJP MP restated the accusations and requested the IT Ministry to investigate whether Mahua Moitra provided her login credentials for the Lok Sabha website to Hiranandani and his real-estate conglomerate, Hiranandani Group.

Moitra Hits Back

On the other hand, Moitra has hitout at Dubey and said, she "welcomes any move against her after the Lok Sabha Speaker is finished dealing with pending charges against him (Dubey)".

Tagging the Lok Sabha Speaker, she said, "Finish the enquiries against him for false affidavits & then set up my enquiry committee."

"Multiple breach of privileges pending against fake degreewala & other BJP luminaries. Welcome any motions against me right after Speaker finishes dealing with those. Also waiting for ED & others to file FIR in Adani coal scam before coming to my doorstep," she said.

"If Adani group is relying on dodgy dossier created by dubious Sanghis & circulated by fake degree wallahs to either shut me up or bring me down I would advise them not to waste their time. Use your lawyers wisely," the TMC MP added.

In another post, Moitra said, "Also welcome CBI enquiry into my alleged money laundering right after they finish investigating Adani's offshore money trail, over invoicing, benami accounts. Adani may use BJP agencies to browbeat competition & buy airports but just try doing it with me."

She further added, "All parliamentary work of MPs done by PAs, assistants, interns, large teams. Respected @ashwinivaishnaw please release details of location & login details of ALL MPs with CDRs . Please release info on training given to staff to login."