"Maa Durga aa gayi hai, ab dekhenge...": MP Mahua Moitra on ethics panel's report

The atmosphere in the Indian Parliament was charged with anticipation as Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra prepared for the tabling of the Ethics Committee's report concerning allegations against her. 

The report, which stemmed from a 'cash-for-query' case, had already stirred controversy with its recommendation for Moitra's potential expulsion from the Lok Sabha.

Ahead of the report's presentation, Mahua Moitra appeared undaunted, invoking the imagery of the goddess Durga, a symbol of power and justice in Indian mythology. "Maa Durga aa gayi hai, ab dekhenge," she declared, signaling her readiness to face the ensuing parliamentary battle. Her statement also included a reference to a Bengali poem by Kazi Nazrul Hasan, hinting at the onset of a struggle reminiscent of the epic Mahabharata: "Jab naash manuj par chhata hai, pehle vivek mar jaata hai. They have started 'vastraharan' and now you will watch 'Mahabharat ka rann'."

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The Ethics Committee, led by BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar, had previously adopted the report with a split decision of six members in favor and four against. The committee had heard from Moitra herself, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey who filed the complaint, and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai. Allegations involved an exchange of bribes between Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani for posing questions in Parliament, a claim that Moitra vehemently denied, even sending legal notices to Dubey and Dehadrai for defamation.

Despite the gravity of the charges and the committee's severe language describing Moitra's actions as "highly objectionable, unethical, heinous, and criminal," the report's tabling in the Lok Sabha had been delayed, leading to speculation and criticism from opposition members. If the report were to be tabled, it would require a vote in the House to determine Moitra's fate, with the BJP issuing a strict whip to ensure its MPs' presence and support for the party line.

The delay in tabling the report, initially expected on the first day of the parliamentary session, had been criticized by opposition members, including Danish Ali of the Bahujan Samaj Party, who called for a full discussion if the report were presented. The opposition accused the BJP-led committee of hastily approving the draft without proper deliberation.

As the political drama unfolded, Mahua Moitra stood firm, ready to confront the challenges ahead, with the spirit of 'Maa Durga' by her side, and the nation watched on, anticipating the next chapter in this modern-day 'Mahabharat.'