BJP MP Katara expelled, 11th to be axed in 14th LS

Controversial BJP MP Babubhai Katara, allegedly involved in the infamous human trafficking case, was expelled from the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Controversial BJP MP Babubhai Katara, allegedly involved in the infamous human trafficking case, was expelled from the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, taking the total number of members axed in the current term to a record 11.

Katara, representing Dohad ST seat in Gujarat, was shown the door after the House adopted a resolution expelling him, a day after a Lok Sabha panel recommended his removal for 8220;grave misconduct8221;.

Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee moved a resolution which held that Katara had 8220;committed an act of grave misconduct which has brought disrepute to and maligned the image of the entire fraternity of legislators.8221;

Mukherjee as well as Speaker Somnath Chatterjee remarked that it was a 8220;most unpleasant job8221; but the image of Parliament has to be protected.

8220;This is the most unpleasant job 8230; but this duty has to be discharged. It is my misfortune that I had to move such motions on several occasions. One has to be extra careful to protect the image of this great institution,8221; Mukherjee said.

His remark was an obvious reference to the cash-for-query scam which resulted in the axing of as many as ten members of the House, an unprecedented development in the annals of Parliament.

Sharing Mukherjee8217;s sentiments, the Speaker said it was unfortunate that there were 8220;slippages in our conduct8221; and 8220;we have to rise to the occasion8221; and added that 8220;we are not targeting any member.8221;

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Katara was caught at the Delhi airport in April last year llegedly trying to illegally take a woman and a boy abroad on the passports of his wife and son.

The Speaker had asked the Committee to Inquire into Misconduct of Members of the Lok Sabha, headed by senior Congress MP V Kishore Chandra Deo, to go into the matter.

The panel in its report said, 8220;making a fake diplomatic passport in his wife8217;s name can have no motive other than to indulge in human trafficking8221; and held that 8220;he needs to be meted out the severest of punishments.8221;

Lamenting that Katara8217;s conduct was a 8220;far cry from the virtues8221; expected of MPs, the report said 8220;to say that the conduct of Katara was unbecoming, would be putting it rather too mildly8221;.

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The Committee pointed out that Katara was given three opportunities to appear before it for giving his oral evidence but he did not come, citing health grounds.

Incidentally, BJP had already sought his expulsion for voting against the party line and in favour of the UPA government during the July 22 trust vote.