"Sharing information linked to Parliament is national security issue": Anurag Thakur on "cash for query" scandal

Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh) [India], October 24 : Amid the controversy over the alleged "cash for query" scandal against TMC MP Mahua Moitra, Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anurag Thakur on Tuesday said that sharing information linked to Parliament is a national security issue, along with corruption.
Speaking to the reporters here, the union minister said that national security is an important issue.
"National security is an important issue. Sharing information that is linked to Parliament or any other information that might create trouble is a national security issue, along with corruption," Anurag Thakur said.
Thakur, however, further said that the investigation into the matter is going on.
The whole controversy started when BJP MP Nishikant Dubey wrote to the Speaker, alleging 'Cash for Query' proof against the TMC MP.
He claimed the said proof was provided by Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai.
Dubey, in his letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, under the head "Re-emergence of nasty 'Cash for Query' in Parliament", accused the TMC member of "serious Breach of Privilege", "Contempt of the House" and a "criminal offence under Section 120A of IPC".
In his complaint with the Lokpal, Dubey alleged that Moitra received Rs 2 crores in cash from businessman Darshan Hiranandani, both in Indian and foreign currencies, in lieu of posing questions in Parliament.
He alleged further the businessman used the Lok Sabha logging credentials of the TMC MP while she was travelling abroad.
"The complainant is in receipt of a letter dated October 14, 2023, from one Jai Anant Dehadrai, Advocate, Supreme Court of India, wherein several serious and disturbing facts along with detailed proof have been mentioned against Mahua Moitra. In the letter, Dehadrai provides in great detail how, when and where Moitra received bribes from a businessman Darshan Hiranandani. The said letter clearly mentions how Mahua Moitra has received Rs two crores in cash from the said Darshan Hiranandani both in Indian currency and in foreign currency for asking questions in Parliament. The content of the said letter is self-explanatory. It also mentions that the said Darshan Hiraanandani had direct access to Mahua Moitra's Lok Sabha logging credentials and the same has been used by the said Darshan Hiraanandani while Mahua Moitra was travelling abroad," Dubey said in his complaint with the anti-graft watchdog.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Hiranandani submitted a "sworn" and notarised affidavit to the Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha.
The accused Dubai-based businessman, who later turned approver in the matter, alleged that the TMC MP provided him with her "Parliament login and password" so that he "could post questions directly on her behalf when required".
The Parliament Ethics committee has called both Dubey and Advocate Dehadrai to submit oral evidence of allegations before it on October 26.
The TMC has maintained a studied silence on the controversy, party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh when questioned on the issue said "No comments...regarding this issue the TMC will not say anything...The related person may answer this."