Expulsion of Mahua Moitra is against public interest: statement by 123 citizens

A group of concerned 123 citizens has expressed “anguish and distress at the way Ms Mahua Moitra, a distinguished Member of Parliament has been treated for raising genuine concerns about a corporate group’s activities that could have far-reaching public interest implications.”

The statement, dated November 15, 2023 states that, “From news reports (https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lok-sabha-ethics-panel-suggests-disqualification-for-tmc-mp-mahua-moitra/article67516744.ece), we understand that Ms Moitra may face expulsion from the Parliament on the basis of certain allegations which are yet to be subjected to strict  Parliamentary and judicial scrutiny in compliance with established norms of natural justice.”

Further, citizen state that, “There are larger issues that arise from this with regard to the necessity of the political executive remaining accountable to the Parliament and the public at large.We feel that the issues arising in the case of Ms Moitra cannot be viewed narrowly as being an inter-corporate conflict of interest. They are more in the nature of issues arising in the case of one corporate entity and the people of India. Unless those issues are examined as outlined below in their entirety, we feel that the Parliament will be doing a grave injustice to itself and also to Ms Moitra.  

“When there are reports of a corporate entity failing to comply with the rule of law and established norms of corporate governance, should the executive and/or a Joint Parliamentary Committee as demanded by several political parties, instead of enquiring into the veracity of those reports and placing the facts before the Parliament and the public, use its power of privilege with is meant for public good to question those who raise those concerns, intimidate them and gag dissent? Does not such conduct on the part of the executive hurt the public interest? 

“At one time, the Companies Act prohibited corporate donations to political parties. As electoral corruption and profligacy in election expenditure started increasing, successive governments chose to dilute that Act to permit private companies to fund elections. During the last nine years, the present government went far beyond that and opened the floodgates to corporate donations, including donations from foreign sources. As if that was not enough, it introduced a highly regressive system of Electoral Bonds that have permitted political parties to receive donations from anonymous individuals and corporate bodies, which in turn deprived the citizens of their “right to know” under Article 19 of the Constitution. This has made it easy for private companies to fund the political parties and, in turn, influence them to grant them quid pro quos in terms of dilution of environmental and other laws and compromising institutions to suit their interests. 

“In the instant case, the manner in which the political executive has responded to questions on instances of irregularities in corporate governance highlights the strong nexus that exists between the political executive and big businesses and its deleterious implications for the public interest. 

“Ms Moitra’s participation in the Parliamentary proceedings brought to light many issues of importance that the people of this country would never have been privy to. Her threatened  exit from the Parliament will certainly create a void in the continuing discourse on such issues. 

“With specific reference to the matter concerning Ms Moitra, we wish to place on record the following concerns: 

1.    Natural justice requires that a person facing an accusation be given adequate opportunity to have access to all evidence put forward in support of such an accusation, cross-examine witnesses, if any, who have made such an accusation and present his/her case in detail, without which the process of considering the veracity of that accusation may stand vitiated from the point of view of the principles of natural justice

2.    If an accused person were to be penalised, the penalty needs to be in proportion to the extent the accusation is established beyond all doubt

3.    The expulsion of a member of any legislature is a serious matter which has wider implications for our democracy. It calls for a careful examination and circumspection on the part of the Parliament and the other legislative bodies before such a far reaching decision is taken. 

Finally “placing on record our serious concern at the reported action to expel her from the Parliament,” the signatories have expressed the “h hope that the Hon’ble Speaker to whom Ms Moitra has addressed a detailed letter (https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/peeping-tom-government-anyone-who-speaks-up-is-being-targeted-mahua-moitra-to-india-today-2456559-2023-11-01) will allow her to continue as a Member of the Parliament and add value to its proceedings.” 

Signatories include : 

1. E A S Sarma, IAS (Retd)
2. M G Devasahayam IAS (Retd)
3. Prabhat Patnaik, Professor Emeritus, JNU New Delhi
4. Thomas Franco, Former GS, AIBOC & Dy. Chair, Global Labour University
5. Anil Sadagopal, Former Member, CABE, Educationalist, Bhopal
6. A. Selvaraj, IRS (Retd.)
7. Abha Bhaiya, Social Activist.
8. Abhijit Sengupta, IAS (Retd)
9. Aditi Mehta, IAS Retd. Former Addl. Chief Secretary, Rajasthan.
10. Aloysius Irudayam, Researcher & Human Rights Activist, Madurai
11. Amanullah Khan, Former President, All India Insurance Employees Association
12. Amita Buch, Ahmedabad
13. Anita Agnihotri, IAS (Retd)
14. Aruna Roy, Mazdoor Kissan Shakthi Sankatan
15. Arundhati Dhuru, National Alliance of Peoples Movements.
16. Arvind Kaul, IAS (Retd), Former Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh
17. Asha Mishra, General Secretary All India Peoples Science Network, N. Delhi
18. Ashok Choudhary, Peoples Union of Forest Rights
19. Ashok Kumar Sharma, IFS (Retd)
20. Ashok Vajpayee, IAS (Retd.)
21. Ashoke Chatterjee, New Delhi
22. Asmi Sharma. Jan Sorokar
23. Aurobindo Behera, IAS (Retd.)
24. Bobby Ramakant, CNS and Socialist Party (India)
25. Brijesh Kumar, IAS (Retd.)
26. Brinelle D’Souza, Academic & Activist, Mumbai, Co-Convener Jan Swasthya Abhiyan
27. C. K. Ganguly (Bablu) Former & Social Worker
28. Captain S. Prabhala IN (Retd), Bangalore
29. D Gopalakrishnan, Socialist Party of India, Karnataka
30. Deb Mukharji, IFS (Retd.)
31. Delfina K. S. Gender Rights Activist, NIRANGAL, Chennai
32. Dr. Anirban Bhattacharrya, Financial Action Network of India
33. Dr. Archana Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru University
34. Dr. Dinesh Abrol, AIPSN & People First
35. Dr. Indira Jayasingh, Senior Council, Supreme Court
36. Dr. Janakarajan, Former Professor, Madras Institute of Development Studies
37. Dr. M. C. Rajan, Human Rights Lawyer, Madras High Court
38. Dr. Nityanand Jayaraman, Chennai Solidary Group
39. Dr. P. Sainath, Journalist, Peoples Archives of India
40. Dr. Praveen Jha, Jawaharlal Nehru University
41. Dr. Prof. Jagdeep Chokker (Rtd) – Association for Democratic Rights
42. Dr. Ram Puniyani, All India Secular Forum
43. Dr. S. P. Udayakumar, Pasumai Thamizhaham
44. Dr. Sabyasachi Chatterjee, Retd Scientist, IISC. Science Communicator
45. Dr. Satinath Choudhary, social-political activist
46. Dr. Sebastian Morris, Goa Institute of Management Former Professor IIM, Ahmedabad
47. Dr. Sreedhar Ramamurthi, Environics Trust
48. Dr. Suman Sahai, Gene Campaign
49. Dr. Sushil Khanna Professor Retd, IIM Kolkatta
50. Dr. T. M. Thomas Issac, Former Finance Minister of Kerala
51. Dr. Vasanthi Devi, Former VC, Manonmaniam Sundharanar University, Tamilnadu
52. Dr. Venkatesh Athreya, Prof. of Economics (Retd) Bharatidasan University, Trichirapalli.
53. Dr. Vivek Monteiro, Trade Unionist, Science Educator, Mumbai
54. F.T.R. Colaso, IPS (Retd)
55. G. Sundar Rajan, Poovulagin Nanbargal, Tamilnadu
56. Gopalakrishnan D. General Secretary, Socialist Party, Karnataka
57. Gopalan Balagopal, IAS (Retd.)
58. Gurjit Singh Cheema, IAS (Retd.)
59. Harsh Mander, IAS (Retd.)
60. Henri Tiphague, People’s Watch, Madurai, Working General Secretary. HRDA
61. Inamul Harsan, Social Harmony Foundation, Chennai
62. Ish Kumar, IPS (Retd.)
63. Jawhar Sircar, IAS (Retd) Member of Parliament & Former Secretary, GOI
64. Joe Athialy, Financial Accountability Network of India
65. John Dayal, Writer & Activist, Delhi
66. Jothi S. J. Kolkata
67. Kavitha Kabeer, Social Activist, FAN India
68. Kavitha Kuruganti, Social Activist, Bangalore
69. Lakhwinder Gill. IAS (Retd).
70. Mahi Pal Singh, Secretary, Indian Renaissance Institute, New Delhi
71. Maj. Gen. Dr. Sudhir Vombatkare, Mysuru
72. Malay Mishra, IFS (Retd.)
73. Maxwell Pereira, IPS (Retd.)
74. Meena Gupta, IAS (Retd.)
75. Meera Sanghamitra, National Alliance of People’s Movements
76. Mira Pande, IAS (Retd.)
77. Nagalsamy, IA&AS (Retd.)
78. Navrekha Sharma, IFS (Retd.)
79. Nikhil Dey, MKSS
80. Noor Mohammad, IAS (Retd.)
81. P. Joy Oommen, IAS (Retd.)
82. P.R. Dasgupta, IAS (Retd.)
83. Padamvir Singh, IAS (Retd.
84. Pamela Philipose, senior journalist, New Delhi
85. Paranjoy Guha Thakurtha, Independent Writer, Publisher & Filmmaker
86. PMS Malik, IFS (Retd.)
87. Prakash Louis, Social Activist
88. Pramod Gouri, Associate Professor (Rtd) Haryana
89. Premkumar Menon, IAS (Retd.)
90. Priyadarshini, Delhi Forum in Solidarity
91. Prof Jagmohan Singh, Chairperson, All India Forum for Right To Education
92. Prof Prajit K. Basu (Retired)
93. Prof Sandeep Pandey, General Secretary, Socialist Party (India)
94. Prof Shobha Shukla, Lucknow
95. Prof. Raghavan Rangarajan
96. Professor Surinder Kumar, Institute of Social Sciences
97. Raghavan Srinivasan, Lok Raj Sangathan
98. Ranjan Solomon, Goa
99. Ravi Vira, IAS (Retd.)
100.  Raynah Marise, National Convener, Indian Christian Women’s Movement
101. Rosamma Thomas, Social Activist
102. Rudi Warjri, IFS (Retd.)
103. S.K. Guha, IAS (Retd.)
104. S.P. Ambrose, IAS (Retd.)
105. S.P. Shukla IAS (Retd) Former Secretary, GOI
106. Sandeep Pandey, General Secretary, Socialist Party (India)
107. Sankar Singh, MKSS
108. Satwant Reddy, IAS (Retd.)
109. Sehjo Singh, Rights Activist, Maharashtra
110. Shabnam Hashmi, Social Activist, ANHAD
111. Sharad Behar, IAS (Retd.)
112. Sobha Nambisan, IAS (Retd.)
113. SR Darapuri IPS (Retd)
114. Sudhir Kumar, IAS (Retd.)
115. Sundar Burra, IAS (Retd.)
116. Surendra Nath, IAS (Retd.)
117. Suresh K. Goel, IFS (Retd.)
118. T.R. Raghunandan, IAS (Retd.)
119. Umasankari Naren, Farmer &Social Activist
120. V. P. Raja, IAS (Retd)
121. V. Sridhar, Journalist
122. Veppala Balakrishnan, Former Spl. Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, GOI
123. Vishwas S. Bhamburkar, Socialist Party