Parliament video: Speaker forms 9-member probe panel, asks Bhagwant Mann not to attend House

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Monday formed a nine-member committee to probe into live streaming of a video of Parliament House complex by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Bhagwant Mann on his Facebook page.

Saying that Mann's videography of the Parliament House complex had put its security "in peril", Mahajan “advised” Punjab`s Sangrur MP not to attend the House till a decision is taken on the matter.

The panel, chaired by BJP member Kirit Somaiya, has been asked to submit its report by August 3, while Mann has been asked to appear before the panel by 10.30 am on July 26 (Tuesday) and make his submission.

 

The Aam Aadmi Party has slammed the Lok Sabha Speaker's decision, describing it as one-sided judgement.

Describing Parliament as "sanctum sanctorum" of democracy, Mahajan recalled that on December 13, 2001, security personnel had sacrificed their lives protecting Parliament and after that entire security system was reviewed and overhauled.

 

Therefore, the "act of the member" has put the security of Parliament in peril, she said.

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.

Mahajan said she had consulted leaders of all political parties and everyone supported her actions on this issue.

Mahajan has formed the nine-member panel headed by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kirit Somaiya which includes Anandrao Adsul (Shiv Sena), Meenakshi Lekhi, Satya Pal Singh (both BJP), B Mahtab (Biju Janata Dal), Ratna De Nag (Trinamool) and KC Venugopal (Congress) and other members.

The panel has also been asked to "suggest remedial measures" so that such episodes are not repeated.

 

"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.

The AAP MP from Punjab stoked a controversy on Thursday after he shot a video clip of his journey from home to Parliament House, including movement past various security checkpoints, and posted it on the social media, drawing flak from various quarters for putting Parliament complex security in danger.

However, he apologised to the Lok Sabha Speaker and removed the video from Facebook.

(With Agency inputs)