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| Inquiry says 'Indian MPs must go'
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The five-member committee has ruled that their continuance was "untenable" the Press Trust of India reports. The MPs were secretly videotaped by a news website and a news channel allegedly accepting money for asking questions in parliament. Some of the MPs shown in the videotape named said they had been framed. All 10 MPs and another MP from the upper house - who was also shown allegedly accepting money - have been suspended. Six of the MPs belong to the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), three to the regional Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and one each to the ruling Congress Party and its ally, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). 'Fund' scam On Tuesday, the speaker of India's parliament ordered an investigation into a second scandal, after seven MPs were seen allegedly asking for bribes on Indian television. India's Star News channel broadcast video footage of the MPs apparently seeking a commission to approve public works projects in their constituencies. At least one of the MPs has challenged the accusation. The MPs were said to have misused a fund aimed at developing their constituencies. Every MP in both the lower and upper house of parliament is given 20m rupees ($445,000) each year to fund development projects in their constituencies. Nearly five years ago, pioneering Indian news website Tehelka taped video footage of senior politicians, bureaucrats and Indian army officers apparently taking money in connection with a defence deal. The scandal forced the resignation of the then BJP president,
Bangaru Laxman, and former federal defence minister, George Fernandes. | |||
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