Mahua Moitra row: Govt so eager to protect a particular industrialist, says Congress’s Adhir Ranjan

In connection with the bribery allegations against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday said the government is distressed and so eager to protect a particular industrialist.

Chowdhury also added that he was not exactly aware of what happened in the Moitra case.

"When we go to the House, we are the representatives of the public, we try to raise questions wherever we have any... But I have never seen such a way of forming an Ethics Committee and starting an investigation... Every member has the right to speak inside the House,” Chowdhury was quoted by ANI.

"The government is facing problems because of a particular person or a particular industrialist. The government is so eager to protect a particular industrialist that if anyone asks questions against him, the person becomes an enemy of the country," he said.

While speaking to the reporters, Chowdhury cited the example of Rahul Gandhi's disqualification. "Action was taken against Rahul Gandhi too when he raised questions about that specific industrialist," said Chowdhury.

TMC MP has been accused of taking bribes in exchange of questions against Adani that allegedly came from businessman Darshan Hiranandani. In an affidavit, Hiranandani claimed he used Moitra's parliament login to post questions.

However, TMC is yet to issue an official statement in the matter. Earlier, TMC general secretary Kunal Ghosh said the party will not react on the issue.

In an affidavit, Hiranandani said Moitra made "frequent demands" including "expensive luxury items, providing support on renovation of her bungalow holidays...logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world," the affidavit claimed.

Meanwhile, Moitra questioned the ethics committee and asked how the “affidavit” found its way to the media?

She stressed again that the charges against her were part of BJP’s agenda to expel her from the Parliament and silence her on Adani.