Panel for Katara’s expulsion

A parliamentary panel has recommended the expulsion of Gujarat Member of Parliament Babubhai Katara involved in the infamous human trafficking case from Lok Sabha, reports Saroj Nagi.

A parliamentary panel has recommended the expulsion of Gujarat Member of Parliament Babubhai Katara involved in the infamous human trafficking case from Lok Sabha.

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The panel, headed by Kishore Chandra Deo, said Katara had misused facilities as an MP by trying to illegally take two persons abroad on his wife and son’s passports.

The committee to inquire into the misconduct of members of the Lok Sabha said Katara had committed an act of grave misconduct as well contempt of the panel and of the House. As his action threatened to erode the credibility of Parliament as an institution, he should be meted out the severest of punishments, it said.

The committee said the MP — who was arrested in April 2007 for being involved in human trafficking — had failed to appear before it to give oral evidence even though he was given three opportunities.

Katara had cited health grounds for not appearing before the panel, but had at the same time gone on a study tour of the standing committee on science and technology.

The committee did not go into the merits of the criminal charges against Katara, which the police would have to establish in the court of law.

Katara, a BJP member, was expelled from the party for abstaining during thr trust vote.