Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee condemned her party MP Mahua Moitra's expulsion from the House on Friday following the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee's recommendation over her role in the 'cash for query' scandal and tore into BJP.
Calling the step "unconstitutional and unacceptable," a “shocked” West Bengal chief minister accused the ruling party at the Centre of unleashing "political vendetta and injustice" to make a female parliamentarian of young generation a “victim of circumstances.”
She alleged in Darjeeling, “I am sad and shocked to see the attitude of the BJP. They didn't give Ms Moitra a chance to defend herself and removed her by voice votes of their party MPs in majority within half-an-hour of laying a 495-page report in the House.”
Expressing her anguish, the TMC chief added, “I wonder how can someone finish reading so many pages so fast? The MPs of I.N.D.I.A. partners repeatedly asked for time to read the report. But they were denied. I congratulate them for the fight. We are together.”
She also claimed, “The BJP's action revealed its political vendetta after failing to defeat Ms Moitra politically. It is a classic case of betrayal and murder of democracy. I condemn it. Our party was, is and will be with Ms Moitra in her battle.”
Standing by her party MP, Ms Banerjee argued, “We wanted justice and had no problems with a trial. But how can you order a CBI probe as well as expulsion? LS election is barely three months away. Ms Moitra could have attended at least a session but was denied the chance.”
She observed, “The Speaker can suspend anyone from the House. But in this case, Ms Moitra is a victim of circumstances. I hoped the Prime minister would have thought about it. We also have a two-third majority (in the Assembly) and can expel anyone from the House. But will it be proper?”
Ms Banerjee further asserted that Ms Moitra's removal would only “boost her image and morality” to win against the BJP again from her constituency, Krishnanagar, in Nadia in 2024.
