Date:22/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/22/stories/2008102255921300.htm

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Katara expelled from Lok Sabha

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Babubhai K. Katara was expelled from the Lok Sabha on Tuesday after an inquiry committee of the House held him guilty of “grave misconduct” for trying to illegally take two people abroad on passports belonging to his wife and son.

The motion to expel Mr. Katara — who represents the Dahod Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat — was moved by Leader of the House and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

According to the motion, Mr. Katara had “committed an act of grave misconduct which has brought disrepute to and maligned the image of entire fraternity of legislators.”

After moving the motion Mr. Mukherjee noted that this was the most unpleasant job a Leader of the House had to perform. And, he added, this was a task he has had to do more than once during the 14th Lok Sabha; a point lamented by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee also.

Mr. Katara is the 11th member of the 14th Lok Sabha to be expelled. Earlier, 10 members had been expelled in the cash-for-question scam.

Since Mr. Katara refused to appear before the Committee to give evidence despite several reminders, he has also been held guilty of contempt of the Committee and of the House.

According to the Committee — which tabled its report on Monday — his behaviour has threatened to erode the credibility of Parliament as an institution and, should, therefore, attract the severest of punishments.

Disrepute

Further, the Committee observed that members of Parliament should measure up to people’s expectations by conducting themselves honourably and honestly.

“The Committee laments that Mr. Katara’s conduct is a far cry from the virtues expected of MPs. To say that the conduct of Mr. Katara was unbecoming would be putting it rather too mildly. This conduct of Mr. Katara has in fact brought disrepute to and maligned the image of the entire fraternity of legislators.”

Mr. Katara was arrested on April 18, 2007, and the matter was referred to the committee by the Speaker a month later on May 21, 2007.