New Delhi: In a strict action against Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann, the Parliamentarian has been asked not to attend the House till the probe is completed into his Facebook video.
The action was taken after MPs of both the Houses created uproar last week over his controversial video breaching the security of Parliament. Mann had live-streamed his journey from residence to Parliament, access and security details of the complex and uploading it on social media.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has set up a 9-member panel to probe Mann's video which put Parliament security "in peril". The committee has been asked to submit the report by August 3.
The Speaker asked Mann not to attend the House sittings till a decision on the matter is reached.
The panel will be chaired by BJP MP Kirit Somaiya. Other members include BJP MPs Meenakshi Lekhi, Satyapal Singh, Anandrao Adsul (Shiv Sena), B Mahtab (BJD), Ratna De (TMC), Thota Narasimham (TDP), K C Venugopal (Congress) and P Venugopal (AIADMK).
Defending his action, Mann said, "I will agree on what the Speaker has decided but my intentions were not wrong. I just wanted to make an educational video. I don't think such a strong decision should have been taken against me. It's politically motivated. Our party is regularly being targetted, let's wait for the report."
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".
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 the Parliament were reviewed and the complete security apparatus, security systems and procedures have been completely overhauled to secure the 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.
Mann's action is seen as violative of two specific rules of Parliament rules -- 334(A) which 'prohibits advance publicity' and 352 which says 'inter alia video/tape recording should not be done'.
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessed uproar last week over the issue, with MPs demanding strong action against Mann, saying he had compromised the security of Parliament.
Mann had also apologised unconditionally assuring that he won't repeat it.
"I apologise unconditionally. I will not repeat it in future," he said in his letter submitted to the Speaker.
In the nearly 12-minute video that he shared live on Facebook, Mann filmed his vehicle crossing security barricades and him entering Parliament on July 21.
The AAP has, however, cried foul over the action by the Lok Sabha Speaker, saying he was not given a chance to prove his innocence.
"It is one sided judgment. Bhagwant Mann's intention was not to put Parliament security in danger."
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