Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla did not allow TMC MP Mahua Moitra to speak in the Lower House on the Ethics Committee recommendation. Birla said Moitra got the opportunity to defend herself at the panel meet. The Lok Sabha Speaker added that the House has the tradition that the traditions followed by the previous Speakers are always followed by the next Speakers.
“I have a copy of the traditions that were followed earlier. Former Speakers Somnath Chatterjee and Pranab Mukherjee were here earlier. The rules and traditions that they gave are considered our rules,” Om Birla was quoted by ANI as saying in the Lok Sabha.
He explained, “Somnath Chatterjee had said that the Members against whom there are accusations are given ample time to speak before the Committee. This House has the tradition that the traditions followed by the previous Speakers are always further followed by the next Speakers.”
Om Birla's comments came as several opposition and TMC leaders demanded that Moitra should be given a change to defend herself in the Lok Sabha in connection with the 'cash-for-query case'.
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee said that the fair trial would be there only when an affected person is being heard and requested Speaker Om Birla to allow Mahua Moitra to speak.
Banerjee said fundamentals principles of the law state that a person whom against a charge has been brought, and the person who are bringing the charges should be established according to the procedure of law. This case will clearly reveal that.
He added that the main man was Darshan Hiranandani who has relied upon his statement. "His affidavit has been brought here who was not brought as a witness and he has not testified it. No affidavit can be relied upon unless person comes and says that whatever I have said is correct," Kalyan said in the Lok Sabha.
Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha after a discussion on the report of the Ethics Committee in the 'cash for query' that was tabled in the Lower House today. The expelled Lok Sabha MP alleged that she has been found guilty of breaching a code of ethics that 'does not exist'.
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