Mann’s video disrupts Parliament, action soon

Aditi Tandon & Seema Kaul

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 22

AAP member Bhagwant Mann is staring at the prospect of suspension from the Lok Sabha after his Parliament video derailed proceedings in both Houses, with MPs cutting across party lines to seek action against him.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day around 12.15 pm after protests erupted over the video that exposes Parliament’s security checkpoints. The Rajya Sabha also wound up around 3 pm following frequent disruptions on the issue with ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and MA Naqvi describing the video act as a breach of security and noting that in the 2001 Parliament attack, the saving grace had been terrorists’ ignorance of the internal security protocol.

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Mann, the comedian-politician from Punjab’s Sangrur, appeared crestfallen, as he failed to placate LS Speaker Sumitra Majahan with an unconditional apology. “This is too serious an error to be corrected by an apology. Thirteen persons died in the 2001 Parliament attack. The Parliament is still vulnerable. I will consult all leaders before deciding the course of action,” the Speaker said after Mann met her twice.

She also initiated the process of forming an ad hoc committee to probe the controversial 12-minute video that reveals entry to Parliament’s strategic areas. The suggestion about a standalone committee came this morning from BJD’s Bhartruhari Mahtab, who said Mann’s act wasn’t one of ethics or privilege and mandated separate consideration. “It’s not foolishness or ignorance. It’s serious. In the 2001 attack, the terrorists didn’t know where to enter,” Mahtab said.

Earlier, as the LS assembled, members of the ruling NDA sought action against Mann, who wasn’t allowed to speak by Mahajan. “I assure you. Some action will be taken,” the Speaker said after Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge, Akali Dal’s Prem Singh Chandumajra, BJP’s RK Singh and Shiv Sena’s Anandrao Adsul termed Mann’s act as serious and sought punishment for him.

Former Home Secretary Singh was for MP’s suspension, while Chandumajra wanted to know since when Mann had been posting Parliament details online.

The Rajya Sabha witnessed similar scenes with Akali Dal’s Naresh Gujral, Congress’ Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni and Partap Bajwa, CPM’s Sitaram Yechury and JDU’s Sharad Yadav condemning Mann’s act and calling for action against him.

Frequent disruptions followed and when the House reassembled after lunch for private members’ business, Congress’ KVP Rao was unable to move the Bill for special status to Andhra Pradesh as minister Harsimrat Badal was on her feet raising the Mann issue.

The Congress later accused the BJP of using the video to stall Parliament and block the Andhra Bill besides deflecting attention from Dalit rage the BJP has been facing for its UP leader’s sexist slur against BSP chief Mayawati.

Mann for his part denied having done anything intentionally. “I had no intentions of revealing Parliament security details and didn’t know this was against the rules. I offered my unconditional apology to the LS Speaker and said I will never repeat this,” said a visibly shocked Mann, the first MP ever to be accused of compromising Parliament security.