Indian TV station shows MPs grabbing cash for favours

NEW DELHI—An Indian TV station caused a political uproar when it broadcast images of 11 members of parliament taking cash allegedly in return for raising issues in the federal legislature.
The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) immediately suspended six of its legislators after the video clips were shown on Aaj Tak television on Monday. The other MPs came from the ruling Congress party and its ally, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, as well as the regional Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
Somnath Chatterjee, speaker of the 545-member elected lower house, said he was shocked by the sting, the second by Aaj Tak since May, when it trapped wardens of India’s most-guarded prison, Tihar, taking bribes. “I am extremely scared if the allegations are correct ... Nobody will be spared and we shall certainly respond to it in a manner that behoves us,” he said.
“I am making a personal request to all of those allegedly involved to please do not attend the session until the matter is looked into and a decision is taken,” he said as the scandal triggered an uproar in parliament.
One of the legislators shown stuffing his pockets with thick wads of money on camera belonged to parliament’s prestigious upper house, the Rajya Sabha, which is nominated instead of directly elected.—Agencies