AAP MP Bhagwant Mann on Monday attempted to downplay the controversy surrounding his move to live-stream his arrival at the Parliament last week, and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expulsion for compromising on natural security, with the decision to allow Pakistan’s security agency inside the country post the Pathankot airbase attack.
Extremely upset with the flurry of criticism against him by the opposition parties, Mann said that this was a political conspiracy aimed at maligning the AAP’s reputation ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls.
Elucidating his intention behind making the video, Mann said that he just wanted to make the people of the nation aware that how their grievances are picked up for discussion in the Parliament.
“I would like to ask wasn’t the nation’s security put at stake when Pakistan’s security agency came and Prime Minister Narendra Modi allowed them inside the Pathankot base.
Prime Minister Modi should also be asked to appear before a committee, he should also be suspended from the Parliament. This one sided proceedings is part of a political conspiracy. These parties are scared because the AAP will get majority in the upcoming Punjab polls,” said Mann.
“I have told this earlier as well that I never wanted to jeopardise Parliament’s security. I just wanted to make an educational video. I wanted to make the people aware that how their grievances are selected through lucky draw. Since the people have elected us, so it is their right to know how are issues selected in the House. But I believe my apology was not enough that’s why I got suspended. This means that I will not be able to take up the issues of the people in the ongoing session,” he added.
Mann has been told not to attend the Lok Sabha till a decision is made about how he should be penalised.
According to reports, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has advised Mann to stay away from the House for the time being.
Mann had submitted an unconditional apology to the Lok Sabha Speaker which she said was not enough.
A nine-member committee will now investigate the incident.
The enquiry committee has been asked to file its report by August 3 and Mann has been asked to make a statement at 10.30 am tomorrow.
The AAP MP last week filmed a video clip of his journey from his residence to Parliament House and shared it on social media. The video, showing various high security installations at the Parliament, put the security of Parliament “in peril”, Mahajan said earlier.
There was uproar in the Parliament over the video and MPs called for strict action against the AAP MP.
BHAGWANT MANN TO APPEAR BEFORE LOK SABHA PANEL ON JULY 28
AAP lawmaker Bhagwant Mann has sought three days' time to appear before the panel constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to probe his alleged breach of parliament security, sources said here on Monday.
They said that Mann, who had been asked to appear before the panel by 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday, would now go before the panel on July 28 at 3 p.m.
The sources said the nine-member panel met on Monday hours after it was constituted by the Speaker and is expected to have daily meetings.
Delhi Police Commissioner or his representative and a senior official dealing with parliament security are expected to make detailed submissions before the panel on Tuesday, then sources said.
The officials are expected to suggest steps to prevent recurrence of any such incident.
Other persons associated with the security apparatus in parliament are also expected to make their submissions before the committee.
The panel, which has been asked to give its report by August 3, is expected to submit it to the Speaker by the stipulated time.
The Speaker on Monday set up the panel to probe the alleged breach of parliament security by Mann and "advised" him not to attend the house till the issue is resolved.
She said Mann's act had put "security of the parliament in peril". Mann is an Aam Aadmi Party MP from Sangrur, Punjab.
The inquiry committee will inquire into the security implications and related aspects arising out of Mann making the audio-visual recording of his entry into Parliament House.
The panel is headed by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kirit Somaiya.
