Cash for query row: TMC's Mahua Moitra says 'need more time', to skip ethics panel's summon on Oct 31

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra, who was summoned by the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on October 31, has said that she won’t be able to appear before it on that day owing to ‘prior commitments.’

“Chairman, Ethics Comm announced my 31/10 summons on live TV way before official letter emailed to me at 19:20 hrs,” Moitra said on X.

She further stated that she could appear in person before the committee “after my pre- scheduled constituency programmes end on Nov 4.”

Chairman, Ethics Comm announced my 31/10 summons on live TV way before official letter emailed to me at 19:20 hrs. All complaints & suo moto affidavits also released to media. I look forward to deposing immediately after my pre- scheduled constituency programmes end on Nov 4. pic.twitter.com/ARgWeSQiHJ

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) October 27, 2023

In a letter addressed to the panel’s chairman Vinod Kumar Sonkar, the TMC MP said, “I represent the state of West Bengal where Durga Puja is the biggest festival. I am already committed to attending numerous pre-scheduled Vijaya Dashami Sammelans/meetings (both government and political) in my constituency from 30th October to 4th November 2023 and cannot be in Delhi on 31st October 2023.”

The Ethics Committee held its first meeting yesterday where  Sonkar said that the panel will seek assistance from the Ministries of Home Affairs and IT in probing the allegations against the TMC MP.

On Thursday, BJP parliamentarian Nishikant Dubey, along with advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai submitted their statements to the committee in connection with the matter.Moitra said that she won’t be able to appear before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on October 31 owing to her commitments in various Vijay Dashami Sammelans