Key Highlights:

• Mahua Moitra, a former investment banker turned politician, faced allegations of sharing her Parliament ID and password with an industrialist to post questions about a rival group.
• The Ethics Committee recommended her expulsion from Parliament, and on December 8, the motion for expulsion was adopted through a voice vote.
• Moitra admitted to sharing her ID and password, receiving gifts, and made broader allegations that many MPs do not draft their own questions.

Key Challenges:

• The credibility of Parliament is at stake due to false claims by Moitra and another MP, Giridhari Yadav, that MPs generally do not frame their own questions.
• The issue of MPs sharing their ID and password, a violation of rules, raises concerns about the security and integrity of parliamentary processes.
• The definition of “cash for query” is debated, involving considerations of gifts, hospitality, and other non-monetary benefits.

Key Terms:

• Parliament Portal: The online platform where MPs submit questions, Zero Hour submissions, and Special Mentions.
• Ethics Committee: A parliamentary committee responsible for examining matters related to the ethical conduct of MPs.
• Cash for Query: The alleged practice of accepting material benefits in exchange for asking questions in Parliament.

Key Phrases:

• “Cash for query”
• “Parliamentary question”
• “Expulsion from Parliament”
• “Ethics Committee”
• “ID and password sharing”
• “Motion for expulsion”
• “Voice vote”

Key Quotes:

• Giridhari Yadav: “Even I do not remember my password. My PA knows it. I have not asked any questions, thinking God knows what will happen.”
• Speaker’s Response: “I request all MPs to frame their questions themselves and put it up. No one else is allowed to do that.”

Key Examples and References:

• Mahua Moitra’s admission to sharing her ID and password, receiving gifts, and the subsequent recommendation for expulsion by the Ethics Committee.
• Giridhari Yadav’s statement about not framing his own questions and relying on his PA.

Key Statements:

• Sharing ID and password with an outsider is a gross violation of parliamentary rules.
• Moitra’s confession and broader allegations cast doubt on the autonomy of MPs in drafting their questions.

Key Facts:

• Moitra graduated from Mount Holyoke College, worked as an investment banker, and joined politics with stints in the Indian National Congress and Trinamool Congress.
• The motion for expulsion was adopted through a voice vote after the Opposition walked out of Parliament.

Key Data:

• Date of Mahua Moitra’s expulsion: December 8
• Number of questions MPs are allowed to submit: Five (two starred and three unstarred).

Critical Analysis:

• False claims about MPs not framing their own questions undermine the reputation of Parliament.
• The issue of ID and password sharing raises questions about the security of parliamentary processes.
• The definition of “cash for query” is explored, considering various non-monetary benefits.

Way Forward:

• Strengthen security measures to prevent unauthorized access to parliamentary portals.
• Emphasize the importance of MPs independently framing their questions for the integrity of parliamentary proceedings.
• Address the broader ethical concerns raised by Moitra’s allegations to maintain the credibility of Parliament.