Odisha BJP demands BJD MP Pinaki Misra's scalp in ‘cash for queries’ scam 

The Odisha unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday trained its gun at Puri Biju Janata Dal MP Pinaki Misra in the case relating to alleged receiving of money by TMC MP Mahua Moitra for posing questions in the Parliament. 

Addressing a press conference, BJP leader Manoj Mohapatra while showing a photograph featuring MP Misra and TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, “We want to know what is the reason behind the intimacy between Pinaki Misra and Mahua Moitra.”

“In his affidavit, Darshan Hiranandani, who gave cash to Mahua Moitra to ask questions in the Parliament, has admitted that he has bought furniture and other luxurious items her and mentioned the name of BJD MP Pinaki Misra,” said Mohapatra. 

Terming Puri MP PInaki Misra as the current account of Mahua Moitra, Mohapatra said, “We want to know what he has done is anti-people or not in BJD’s language. If it is anti-people, then we demand his immediate expulsion from the party.”

The BJP also demanded that the Chief Minister, who is also officiating as the Home Minister, should order an investigation by the EOW in the matter. 

BJP National Vice President Baijayant Panda took to his X handle and said, “I have had the honour of serving on the Parliamentary Committee on Ethics alongside such giants as the late Sushma Swaraj & the venerable Dr. Karan Singh. It gave us no pleasure but was necessary to have 11 MPs expelled & prosecuted after the #CashForQueryScam nearly two decades ago. The rules are the same now, irrespective of whether the consideration is cash or expensive gifts. The outcome must be the same.”

In another post on his X handle, he said, “The sordid details Darshan Hiranandani has disclosed in his sworn affidavit about Mohua Moitra’s misuse of her position as an MP are deeply disturbing. Besides gross violations of Parliamentary ethics & rules, there are explicit references to corruption, security breaches, conspiracy & much more.”

While replying to questions asked by an ANI reporter, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “There is no place for bribery in the parliamentary process. This matter is before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee which is doing its work."