Mann tenders apology, but Speaker hints at action

Saturday, 23/07/2016

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=161538&boxid=59814&uid=&dat=2016-07-23

New Delhi : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Bhagwant Mann on Friday tendered an “unconditional apology” to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for posting a video on security zones in Parliament House premises. “I have written to the Speaker tendering an unconditional apology,” Mann told reporters outside Parliament premises and maintained that he had taken the video footage and circulated it on social networking sites “anjaane mein” (in ignorance).

“I also have highest regard for this temple of democracy and did not want to jeopardise its security and dignity in any manner,” said Mann, who represents Punjab’s Sangrur constituency in the Lok Sabha.

He said he only wanted to tell viewers of how questions are sorted out by a system of lottery before they are taken up in the House.

“I am ready for all kinds of probe. Speaker may set up any committee. I will appear before it,” Mann said.

However, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said criticism of Mann’s action voiced on Friday by members in the house was “very serious”. “I also understand many members are anguished over the episode,” she said, adding that even she was concerned as it related to security of Parliament House in the backdrop of December 13, 2001, terror attack, in which 13 security personnel had laid down their lives guarding the premises.

Mahajan said as the matter was serious, some action ought to be taken, but did not specify.

AAP MP does not want to sit next to ‘tipsy’ Mann

Fatehgarh Sahib : Amid an uproar in the Parliament over his posting a video on social media compromising the security of members on Friday, Sangrur Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Bhagwant Mann came under fire from party colleague and MP Harinder Singh Khalsa, who accused him of coming drunk to the Lok Sabha.

Khalsa, who is Fatehgarh Sahib MP, on Friday requested Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to allow him to shift his seat as Mann comes drunk to the House. “I am a Sikh and it hurts my religious sentiments when Bhagwant Mann sits tipsy next to me. I request you to change my seat,” Khalsa wrote to the Speaker.

In August 2015, the AAP, led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, placed

Khalsa and his Patiala counterpart Dr Dharamvira Gandhi under suspension for holding a parallel rally in Amritsar.

Plaint against Mann registered

New Delhi: A complaint has been registered against Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann on Friday at Parliament Street police station in New Delhi after he courted controversy on Thursday by posting a video on social media of Parliament’s security pickets and internal security positions.

Mann, however, defended his act on Thursday, saying that he was just showing people how the Parliament functions. “Is it illegal, inappropriate to post a video which shows procedure of how questions are taken up in Parliament during question hour,” he had said.

The BJP called Mann’s act “highly irresponsible” and said he should have shown some sense. “He (Bhagwant Mann) should have had some sense. There already has been an attack on Parliament,” said BJP’s RK Singh.

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi said, “It needs to be verified if it was act of foolishness or was done under the influence of some agencies.”

Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju also hit out at Bhagwant Mann, saying that, “Unfortunate that a responsible Member of Parliament conducted himself in a manner, which is objectionable to all members.”