Mahua Moitra to appear before Parliamentary ethics panel today: ‘Let me cross-examine complainants,’ she tells panel chief

Moitra has written the two-page letter, which she shared on ‘X’ on Tuesday, in response to a letter dated October 28, informing that the Committee will hear her on November 2.

Moitra in her letter has said that she had requested for any date after November 5 given her pre-scheduled Vijaya Dashmi programmes.

“It is thus extremely surprising that the Committee has not acceded to this request, is categorically denying me any further extension, and is forcing me to appear before it on a date that is clearly clashing with my constituency commitments. While registering my protest, I wish to inform you that I will respect the summons and appear before the Committee on November 2, 2023 at 11 am,” she wrote.

Moitra added that in direct contrast, a very different approach has been adopted in the case of BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri, who has a complaint of hate speech pending against him in the Privileges and Ethics branch made by a member of that same Committee, Danish Ali, MP.

Moitra added that Bidhuri was summoned on October 10 to provide oral evidence and informed the Committee that he was away campaigning in Rajasthan and would not be attending. No further date of his hearing has been given so far, she wrote, adding, “I wish to place on record that these double-standards reek of political motives.”

Regarding the allegations against her, she added the complainant Dehadrai has provided no documentary evidence to back his allegations neither in his written complaint nor in his oral hearing.

“In keeping with the principles of natural justice, I wish to exercise my right to cross-examine Shri Dehadrai,” she wrote.