Bhagwant Mann apologises for video as Speaker summons him

New Delhi, July 22

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Parliamentarian Bhagwant Mann on Friday gave an unconditional apology for having filmed Parliament security procedure after Lok Speaker Sumitra Mahajan summoned him for an explanation.

Mann was reprimanded when he appeared before the Speaker at 11.10 am, sources in her office said.

Mahajan said she would consult political parties for an "appropriate action" against Mann.

Both Houses of Parliament hotly debated the controversy as Parliamentarians demanded action against Mann, a Lok Sabha member from Sangrur.

In his apology letter submitted to the Speaker, Mann said when he was coming to the House to attend Zero Hour, he had made the "mistake inadvertently" and did not know filming Parliament security was “was against the rules".

"I apologise unconditionally. I will not repeat it in future.”

 Mahajan however refused to accept the apology, instead saying it was a subject that concerned security of MPs and that Parliament House had already witnessed an attack on December 13, 2001, in which 13 people lost their lives. 

AAP defends Mann

The Aam Aadmi Party defended Mann saying his act did not amount to a breach of security and criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party of using the issue to divert attention from the attacks on Daits in Gujarat’s Una.

"Bhagwant Mann was only trying to show to the people how only 20 names were picked from a draw to ask questions (during the Zero Hour). Since representatives from all areas of the country have the right to ask questions in Parliament, this lucky draw system leaves many MPs without a chance to put forth their questions," AAP leader Ashutosh said.

"Parliament cannot be run by just lucky draw...BJP is trying to deflect attention from the issue of attacks on Dalits in Gujarat," he said.

Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh also criticised BJP for targeting Mann.

"Adityanath, Sakshi Maharaj, Giriraj Singh are the biggest threat to country's security and these leaders will add glory to Parliament, while Bhagwant Mann will be booked under NSA? What justice is this? " Singh tweeted.

However, party sources said the controversy could have been avoided.

"It was an innocuous video and it was certainly avoidable. He has been told to be careful in future," a source said, adding the party is of the view that the video "did not compromise" the security of Parliament.      

In the nearly 12-minute video that he shared live on Facebook, Mann filmed his vehicle crossing security barricades and him entering Parliament on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a police complaint has been registered against the Parliamentarian.

The complainant, identified only as S Kumar, has demanded criminal action against the Parliamentarian. The complaint was lodged at the Parliament Street Police station. — Agencies