Leader of Lok Sabha and Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday moved a resolution in the House for expelling 10 members of the 14^th Lok Sabha for accepting bribes to ask questions in Parliament.

The ministers were trapped in a sting operation conducted by television channel Aaj Tak and Cobrapost.com.

Journalists, posing as members of a non-governmental organisation, offered bribe to MPs for asking questions in Parliament.

"I rise to make a painful submission, but there are times when you have to act, however painful it may be," Mukherjee said, moving the resolution.

He said the recommendations of the Bansal Committee, which investigated the issue, should be accepted in toto and all tainted MPs be expelled.

Mukherjee added that though the committee offered to show the tapes to the tainted ministers, who claimed the tapes were doctored, nobody accepted the offer.

"It is not very easy to pass judgment on members who have been amidst us, but there are times when the House must show unanimity in preserving its dignity."

The Bharatiya Janata Party has opposed expulsion of MPs, saying the MPs must be given a chance to explain themselves before the Privileges Committee of Parliament. Of the 10 tainted MPs, six are from the BJP.