No LS entry for Mann till Aug 3

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 25

A nine-member parliamentary panel, constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to look into the videography of the Parliament House complex by AAP’s Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, today decided to give him three days to collect documents in his favour.

“Mann has to appear before the panel on July 28 with all documents and other evidences in his support,” a panel member said, though the Speaker wanted him to make the submission tomorrow.

“We have decided to summon individuals and organisations in the case. Delhi police officials and Parliamentary staff have been summoned to depose tomorrow,” the member added.

Earlier, the Speaker said Mann’s videography of the Parliament  House complex had put its security “in peril” and asked him not to attend the House for 10 days till a decision was taken. 

She also announced setting up a nine-member panel chaired by BJP’s Kirit Somaiya to probe the issue and submit its report by August 3. Mann was not present at the time. “It shall inquire into the serious security implications and related aspects... (and) suggest suitable remedial measures to avoid recurrence  and recommend action,” the Speaker said.

The panel meeting had a controversial start with Congress MP KC Venugopal giving it a miss as he was not “formally” informed. 

Besides Somaiya, the panel has BJP MPs Meenakshi Lekhi and Satyapal Singh. Others are Anandrao Adsul (Shiv Sena), B Mahtab (BJD), Ratna De (TMC), Thota Narasimham (TDP), KC Venugopal (Congress) and P Venugopal (AIADMK).