Top Canadian committee clears Ruby Dhalla of charges

Toronto, June 17: A Canadian parliamentary committee has cleared Indian origin MP Ruby Dhalla of charges of exploiting two Filipino nannies at her home, even as it asked "authorised bodies" to probe the allegations.

Dhalla, 35, a rising star in the Canadian politics is in the eye of storm since last month when two Filipino live in caregivers hired by her in early 2008 publicly alleged that they were underpaid and overworked.

They had also alleged that there passports were seized by her and they were forced to do non-nannies like jobs, including cleaning shoes.

The Committee recommended "that the authorised bodies in the provincial and federal governments investigate the allegations of the former live-in caregivers in the Dhalla residence and take measures as appropriate.

Magdalene Gordo, 31, and Richelyn Tongson, 37, said Dhalla interviewed and hired them to care for her mother in Dhalla's family home in Mississauga, Ont.

Dhalla's party, the Liberal opposition party wrote a minority report that said "certain members" on the committee played partisan politics by focusing on the Dhalla case.

She rejected the charges, telling the committee that their accusations were "false and unsubstantiated." Dhalla said her brother, Neil Dhalla, was responsible for hiring and managing the women. PTI