Filming of Parl security by AAP’s Bhagwant Mann rocks House

Though Mann tendered an unconditional apology as he was summoned by Lok Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who assured the protesting members that she would consult political parties for “appropriate action” into the “too serious” matter.

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

As the issue rocked both the Houses of Parliament, with MPs demanding strong action against him, the Lok Sabha member from Sangrur said he had made the “mistake inadvertently” and that he had no intention of compromising the security of Parliament.

In his apology letter submitted to the Speaker, Mann said when he was coming to the House to attend the Zero Hour and had made the video by mistake as “I did not know that it is against the rules”.

Contending that he had no intention of compromising the security of Parliament, he said, “I apologise unconditionally. I will not repeat it.” The Speaker, however, was not impressed by his apology, saying it was a matter “too serious” considering that Parliament has been attacked by terrorists once.

Mahajan, later, said if it had been a matter, concerning the proceedings inside the House, she would have taken action immediately. However, since it is a matter relating to the Parliament complex, she would consult political parties for “appropriate action”. She said this matter is above ethics or privilege as it concerns the security of Parliament and MPs, who are the representatives of the people.

“Koi na koi karvayee karenge (we will take some action),” she said, adding that 13 people had lost their lives for the security of Parliament, referring to the terror attack of December 13, 2001.

The sources said the Speaker saw the controversial video film on Thursday evening and was shocked, wondering if every MP indulges in such an act, how then the dignity of Parliament could be maintained.

Before Mahajan came to the House, members mostly from NDA constituents Akali Dal, BJP and Shiv Sena, said Mann had compromised the security of Parliament by making and sharing on social media the video film, which showed the route, access and protective arrangements. They were soon joined by members of the Congress and the Left.

The uproar led to repeated adjournments of both the Houses before Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day minutes after noon and Rajya Sabha around 2.40 pm.

After her meeting with Mann, the Speaker held consultations with Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai and some other leaders to take suggestions on the matter. She also sought details about the protective arrangements from a Parliamentary Committee looking after security of the complex.

In Rajya Sabha, BJP, Congress and CPI-M MPs an adjournment till noon, soon after it met for the day, demanding action against Mann. Admitting that the matter was very serious, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said the government has to take cognisance of the security violation and take appropriate legal action.

In the nearly 12-minute video, Mann is seen giving a running commentary as his vehicle crosses security barricades and enters Parliament. “I’ll show you today something you would not have seen earlier,” he is heard saying in the video.

Mann, then, enters a room where questions to be taken up inside Parliament are being sorted and describes the process.

Under mounting attack over the Parliament video row, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Bhagwant Mann on Friday said he was ready for any probe, after tendering an unconditional apology even as the party rallied behind him, saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to hype up a “non-issue” to deflect attention from attacks on Dalits in Gujarat.