The recent expulsion of Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha. It highlights the reasons behind her expulsion and raises questions about the fairness of the decision.
Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha based on a report of the Ethics Committee of the House.
The committee recommended her expulsion by a 6:4 majority, including the vote of a suspended Congress MP.
She was held guilty of 'unethical conduct,' 'breach of privilege,' and 'contempt of the House' based on charges raised by a Bharatiya Janata Party MP.
The charges against her were related to sharing her login credentials with businessman Darshan Hiranandani to upload Parliament questions.
The committee admitted that it had no proof of cash exchanges and called for a "legal, intensive, institutional and time-bound investigation" into that aspect.
Despite the lack of evidence, the committee was emphatic in calling for her expulsion and labeled the sharing of login credentials a criminal act.
The committee cited a precedent of the expulsion of 11 MPs in 2005 for a cash-for-query sting operation, which had video evidence to support the case.
The links between Ms. Moitra's Parliament questions and the business interests of the Hiranandani group are considered frivolous.
The argument that Ms. Moitra endangered national security by sharing login credentials is seen as a stretch.
Draft Bills are meant for public circulation and debate before being brought to Parliament, but there is very little of that happening currently.
The report of the Ethics Committee, which led to Ms. Moitra's expulsion, was tabled and voted on the same day without a detailed discussion.
The expulsion of Ms. Moitra is seen as a case of justice being hurried and buried, setting a concerning precedent for parliamentary democracy.
The recent decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to hold benchmark interest rates steady and its impact on inflation expectations.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep benchmark interest rates unchanged at 6.5% for the fifth consecutive bi-monthly meeting.
The MPC has raised its forecast for full-year GDP growth by 50 basis points.
The MPC has flagged the volatility in inflation caused by food price shocks.
The MPC predicts that headline inflation will quicken in November-December due to uncertainties in food prices and unfavorable base effects.
The RBI's latest 'Households' Inflation Expectations Survey' shows that most households expect faster inflation in the next three months and one year.
The survey reveals that median inflation expectations are at 9.1% for the next three months and 10.1% for the next year.
The MPC's decision to hold interest rates may pose a risk of falling behind in anchoring inflation expectations.
The MPC has upgraded its projection for real GDP growth in the fiscal year ending in March 2024 to 7% from 6.5%.
The upgrade is based on robust investment, strengthening manufacturing, buoyancy in construction, and a gradual rural recovery.
The RBI's cumulative 250 basis points increase in the benchmark interest rate has not dampened growth impulses except for consumption.
Consumption is struggling to gain traction due to high inflation, which has led to people reducing discretionary spending.
The RBI's Consumer Confidence Survey in November showed negative sentiments on current and future price conditions.
Policymakers are aware that without price stability, the benefits of expanding GDP and employment will be eroded.
Comentários