Speaker orders probe into live-streaming row

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 22

Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana KP Singh on Thursday ordered a probe into the reported live-streaming of Wednesday’s House proceedings on social media. In an audio streamed live, Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) MLA Simarjit Singh Bains was heard naming a relative of the Speaker in connection with allegedly illegal mining. These remarks were expunged, but the audio went viral.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said on the floor of the House that Opposition members going live on Facebook from the House was a serious matter. He requested the Speaker to direct all members to strictly follow the rules and maintain the dignity of the House. The CM was joined by Cabinet ministers Navjot Singh Sidhu and Charanjit Singh Channi.

Without naming any MLA, Capt Amarinder told the House that it had come to the government’s notice that an Opposition member had put the Assembly proceedings in public domain by live-streaming the same yesterday.

Directing all members to strictly abide by the Assembly Conduct Rules, the Speaker cited Rule 90, which states that all members should switch off their mobile phones or other communication devices before entering the House.

When Congress MLAs tried to corner Bains on the issue, AAP leader Sukhpal Khaira said Channi had himself shared a video recording of the House proceedings when the latter was the Leader of the Opposition. He defended Bains by saying that audio recording could be done anywhere on the premises of the Vidhan Sabha where voices could be heard through the audio system.

Meanwhile, Aman Arora (AAP) stated that instead of targeting those who had done live-streaming of the House proceedings, the state government should allow live telecast of the session for the sake of transparency.