JD(U) MP on LS Ethics Committee: ‘Have no problem accepting I cannot use online system by myself’

In her deposition before the committee, Moitra said there were two sets of passwords — one for her official mail and the other for the members’ portal used for posting questions and travel reimbursements. She said she shared only the latter password with businessman Darshan Hiranandani’s assistant to post questions, and this too happened only when she approved the OTP. Moitra claimed she did this as her official PAs were Bengali speakers who weren’t conversant in English. The committee in its report mentioned the conflict of business interests between Hiranandani and industrialist Gautam Adani against whom Moitra has been vocal inside and outside Parliament.

“She had the courage to say that she got another person to post her questions,” Yadav told The Indian Express on Sunday. “However, in this case, a money trail was not established. We, as MPs, can face tough actions if we give false or wrong statements in our affidavits. But, the same does not apply in the case of statements of non-MPs. The whole debate on the violation of secrecy is flawed as an MP often seeks assistance from their aides in their parliamentary functioning.”

He added, “I have written to the secretary-general of the Lok Sabha urging him to allow me to pose questions the traditional way. They tried to convince me otherwise and also offered training sessions but I refused. I cannot learn computers at this age.”

Yadav said he had used the online mode for asking questions only with the assistance of family members and aides who are conversant with computers. “It is true that the one-time password (OTP) to finalise the question is received on my mobile but I have to share it with the person assisting me. I do not know what other MPs do in this regard but I have no problem accepting that I cannot use the online system by myself.”

The JD(U) said he would get the questions typed by someone else even in the earlier system and would only sign before sending the questions to the Parliament secretariat. “Was that (old system) also a violation of secrecy as at least a couple of persons, apart from the MP, knew what the question was? I am clear that I am averse to the online system. Members of Parliament are of different age groups and several of them are not tech-savvy. We ask questions on the behalf of people we represent and want a level playing field. Just because some MPs cannot learn computers and use the internet, they cannot be denied the chance to ask questions,” he said.

Referring to Narendra Modi, Yadav said he entered Parliament after becoming prime minister and did not have to go through the rigours faced by a common member of the House. “I would also seek the PM’s intervention in allowing both the systems of asking questions,” he said.