Both have reasons. Mahua thinks she has been harshly judged by her questions in Parliament; Meenakshi says she was wrongly judged by an answer she didn’t give in Parliament.
Meenakshi and Mahua are two of India’s most brilliant MPs, one an efficient minister, the other a dreaded debater. Their sins, alleged or real, aren’t similar. Mahua’s is mala fide; Meenakshi’s is lack of vigil.
Mahua tripped on questions. She shared her login ID and password (no big crime; most MPs lend them to aides) with a business house to post queries to ministries that would further its commercial interests (a crime). She is alleged to have got cash in return (a graver crime). Mahua says she didn’t, where’s the proof? Meenakshi tripped on answers. She found an answer tabled in her name which she hadn’t seen or signed.
Look trivial to us, but both are breaches of parliamentary sanctity—one by commission, the other by omission.
This story is from the December 24, 2023 edition of THE WEEK India.
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This story is from the December 24, 2023 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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