Lok Sabha Speaker Refers Narada Sting Video To Its Ethics Committee

New Delhi: The Narada News sting video controversy escalated as Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Wednesday referred the issue of alleged bribery involving Trinamool Congress MPs to Lok Sabha’s Ethics Committee for investigation and report.

The controversial video involves five Trinamool Lok Sabha MPs and one Rajya Sabha MP among others. It shows several political leaders accepting money from the agent of a fictitious company.

Mahajan referred the issue to the ethics committee of the lower House. She said: “Certain acts of alleged unethical conduct on the part of some members of the House have been reported. These allegations are very serious in nature and seek to impact upon the very credibility of parliamentarians and Parliament as an institution and, therefore, need to be examined.” “Keeping in view the extreme gravity of the matter, I have in exercise of my powers under the provisions of Rule 233B of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, decided to refer the matter to the committee on ethics for examination, investigation and report,” she further added.

In the Rajya Sabha, deputy chairman PJ Kurien rejected the plea of CPM's Sitaram Yechury to refer the matter to its ethics committee, citing lack of unanimity. "The House is divided. One member is saying the video is doctored. I cannot give any direction. You give proper notice," Kurien said, setting aside Yechury's plea.

Narada News, said that the operation started before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.