Video on Parliament security sparks row, Mann ‘to explain’

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 21

Aam Aadmi Party member Bhagwant Mann may soon become the first parliamentarian to be called by the Lok Sabha Speaker to explain why he streamed live Parliament’s internal security details and procedures.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan is learnt to have taken cognisance of the 11 minute-52 second video detailing Parliament’s entry, passage and security points, which Mann posted online on social media while travelling from his house to the Lok Sabha today.

#WATCH Bhagwant Mann's SHOCKING response on his video showing Parliament's sensitive internal security positionshttps://t.co/cJOoBtG3Ud

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 21, 2016

The controversial video shows Mann narrating security procedures MPs have to clear as they enter Parliament, besides the processes during Question Hour and Zero Hour references.

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Sources said the Speaker had taken note of the video and might soon call the MP for an explanation. The Speaker might also seek a report from the Parliament security establishment on whether the video compromised safety. “The Speaker has always said Parliament belongs to MPs and it is for them to maintain its dignity and decorum,” an LS source said. Mann’s video invited large-scale criticism with Akali Dal’s Prem Singh Chandumajra describing the video as a “breach of security and of the faith of other members”. “What Mann did amounts to betrayal of MP’s faith,” Chandumajra said.

BJP’s Meenakshi Lekhi sought to know Mann’s intentions behind the video. “It needs to be checked whether this was just another unreasonable act from an AAP MP or was this done at the behest of some agencies.”

Former Home Secretary and incumbent Lok Sabha member RK Singh was livid at Mann’s act and said, “He should have had some sense before doing this, considering Parliament has already been attacked once.”

Mann was, however, unapologetic and said: “I will do this again. Let the Speaker serve me a notice. Is it wrong to tell the people how MPs get to speak in Parliament, how request for questions are submitted and how MPs get a chance to raise Zero Hour matters? I said at the start of my video that in any democracy people are larger than the leaders. How a lucky draw is decided in Parliament and how MPs speak is something people should know,” he said.