Mahua Moitra tells ethics panel head she can't appear on Oct 31, seeks new date

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has written to the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha stating that she cannot appear before it on October 31 in connection with cashforquery allegations due to prior engagements and will be available only after November 5In a letter to panel chairperson Vinod Kumar Sonkar she said I look very much forward to appearing before the Committee at any date chosen by you after November 5 2023Moitra in a post on X a day after Sonkar announced that she has been summoned on October 31 said she eagerly looks forward to physically attending and presenting her defence against the slanderous charges but is busy till November 4 on account of Durga Puja celebrations going on in West BengalChairman Ethics Comm announced my 3110 summons on live TV way before an official letter emailed to me at 1920 hrs All complaints amp suo moto affidavits also released to the media I look forward to deposing immediately after my prescheduled constituency programmes end on Nov 4 she said in the postThe panel on Thursday recorded the statements of advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey in the matter and decided to call Moitra on October 31Moitra pointed out that she had written to the committee expressing eagerness to be given a fair hearing and an adequate opportunity to defend myself against the false malicious and defamatory accusations levelled against me by Shri Dubey and Shri DehadraiThe Committee against the order of natural justice if I may humbly add summoned and heard the complainants Shri Dubai amp Shri Dehadrai on 26102023 before allowing me the alleged accused a chance to be heard she saidI represent the state of West Bengal where Durga Puja is the biggest festival I am already committed to attending numerous prescheduled Vijaya Dashami Sammelansmeetings both government and political in my constituency from 30th October to 4th November 2023 and cannot be in Delhi on 31st October 2023 she saidTherefore I request time to appear in person before the committee at any date and time of the committees choice after 5 November 2023 As a recent example Shri Ramesh Biduri MP who was summoned by the Privileges Committee on 101023 requested more time since he had prefixed political meetings in Rajasthan and was accorded a similar courtesy by this same branch she saidMoitra said she has an impeccable record of personal integrity adding that she is a vocal member of the Opposition responsible for raising my voice against various corporate scamsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever