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Mann barred from Parl till 9-member panel submits report

Last updated on: July 25, 2016 13:05 IST

Acting tough, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Monday said Aam Aadmi Party Member of Parliament Bhagwant Mann's videography of the Parliament House complex had put its security "in peril" and asked him not to attend the House till a decision is taken on the matter while setting up a nine-member panel to probe the issue.

The panel, chaired by Bharatiya Janata Party member Kirit Somaiya, has been asked to submit its report by August 3, while Mann has time till Tuesday morning to submit his explanation to the committee.

"The act of the member of audio-visual recording of the Parliament and posting it on the social media puts the security of Parliament in peril," the speaker said, adding that several members had expressed concern over the issue on Friday last.

The member is "advised not to attend the sittings of the House" until a decision is taken in the matter, Mahajan said. Mann was not present in the House.

As soon as the House assembled, she informed it about the action being taken on the issue which had led to the adjournment of Lok Sabha proceedings on July 22.

"The inquiry committee shall inquire into the serious security implications and related aspects.... (and) suggest suitable remedial measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future and recommend appropriate action in the matter," the speaker said.

Last week, Mann had put out in the social media a video of his vehicle passing security barricades and entering the Parliament complex. He had also videographed a room where Parliament questions were being sorted.

Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Monday appointed a nine member enquiry committee to probe into Aam Aadmi Party Member of Parliament Bhagwant Mann over a video he shot and uploaded on social media showcasing the security setup at the Parliament.

The enquiry committee has been asked to file its report by August 3 and Mann has been asked to make a statement on Tuesday at 10:30 am.

Even though a concrete action regarding Mann's fate was not announced, Mahajan, however, advised the MP to not enter the Parliament premises until a decision was made in the matter.

Mann drew flak from all the political corners after a video of him shooting the Parliament check posts had emerged.

However, the AAP MP while defending himself said that the purpose of the video was to showcase how Parliament functions.

Earlier, Mann was summoned by Mahajan after many MPs demanded strong action against him.

After his meeting with Mahajan, Mann said that he did not want to risk the security of Parliament. "I apologise unconditionally and assure that this won't be repeated," Mann said, speaking to media persons outside Parliament.

Prior to the meeting, Mann defended himself saying he recorded the video to explain the process of questioning in zero hour to his constituents.

He said that people in his constituency complained that their issues were not being raised in the Parliament.

Leaders in both the Houses of the Parliament strongly condemned the incident and demanded strong action against the comedian-turned MP.

BJP members even demanded a breach of privilege motion to be moved against Mann.

Apart from chairperson Somaiya, the panel has two other BJP members -- Meenakshi Lekhi and Satyapal Singh. Others are Anandrao Adsul (Shiv Sena), B Mahtab (Bijku Janata Dal),  Ratna De (Trinamool Congress), Thota Narasimham (Telugu Desam Party), K C Venugopal (Congress) and P Venugopal (All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam).

The panel has no member from Shiromani Akali Dal. Mann represents Sangrur in Punjab.

"The committee is requested to examine the matter expeditiously and submit its report not later than August 3, 2016," Mahajan said.

Mann has been asked to submit his "statement/explanation" regarding the matter by 10.30 am on Tuesday before the panel."

The panel would look into the serious security implications and related aspects "germane to and arising out of the conduct of audio-visual recording around Parliament House by Mann on July 21, 2016 and subsequent uploading of the said audio-visual recording by him on social media".

Besides, it would suggest suitable remedial measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future and recommend appropriate action in the matter, she said.

"The committee is authorised to follow its own procedure. The report of the committee will be presented to the House for its consideration," the speaker said.

Mahajan said Parliament, which is the sanctum sanctorum, was attacked in 2001 and 13 security men and parliamentary personnel had sacrified their lives.

 

"After the attack, the security arrangements for Parliament were reviewed and the complete security apparatus, security systems and procedures have been completely overhauled to secure Parliament," she said.

In the light of the serious security implications and consequences of the member's action, Mahajan said she had given assurance that she would look into the matter.

"In view of the extreme gravity of the matter, I have discussed it with the leaders of political parties in Lok Sabha and all of them have unanimously agreed to the course of action I propose to take," the speaker said as he announced the setting up of the inquiry panel.

On July 22, several members raised the matter alleging serious breach of security of the Parliament House by the improper conduct of Mann who had videographed and posted critical footage of the complex on a social media, the speaker added.

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