NEW DELHI, July 22:
The controversial filming of Parliament security by AAP MP Bhagwant Mann rocked both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha today, with lawmakers, mostly from the ruling NDA, demanding strong action against him and creating uproar which led to a washout of the proceedings.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who summoned Mann and obtained his “unconditional apology”, termed it a “serious issue” and assured protesting members that some action would be taken.
Both Houses saw trouble from the start, with members mostly from NDA constituents Akali Dal, BJP and Shiv Sena, saying Mann had compromised the security of Parliament by making and uploading on social media the video film which showed the route, his access and protective arrangements.
They were joined by members of Congress and Left parties in demanding action against the Aam Aadmi Party’s Lok Sabha member from Sangrur in Punjab.
The uproar led to repeated adjournments of both Houses before Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day minutes after noon and Rajya Sabha at around 2.40 pm.
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.
Mann then enters a room where questions to be taken up inside Parliament are being sorted and describes the process.
As soon as Lok Sabha met for the day, NDA members raised the issue, terming it as a security breach.
As Mann watched, Kirit Somaiya (BJP) demanded his disqualification as an MP while his party colleague R K Singh, a former Home Secretary, said the AAP member has put a question mark on the security of the sensitive complex. He demanded a breach of privilege motion be brought against Mann.
While NDA members were raising the issue from their benches, RJD and SP members rushed to the Well holding placards over quota, apparently expressing their anguish over delay in passage of a bill on reservation in promotions.
Amid din, the Speaker adjourned the House till 12 pm.
During the adjournment, Mann met her and apologised.
When the House met again, Mahajan said, amid the din, that the matter was “serious” and under her consideration.
“Koi na koi karvayee karenge (we will take some action),” she said, adding that 13 people had laid down their lives for the security of Parliament, referring to the terror attack of December 13, 2001.
As uproar continued, she adjourned the House for the day.
In the Upper House also, ruling BJP members forced an adjournment till noon, soon after it met for the day, demanding action against Mann.
Opposition Congress and CPI-M also slammed Mann’s action and wanted to know what action the Government has taken for the “serious security breach”. They questioned what stopped the ruling side from taking action against Mann in Lok Sabha, where NDA has the absolute majority.
Admitting that the matter was very serious, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said the Government has to take cognisance of the security violation and take appropriate legal action.
If members want a discussion on the issue, an appropriate resolution has to be brought, he said.
Ruling BJP members shouting slogans moved into the aisles, forcing him to adjourn the House till noon.
Opposition members were heard saying that it was unusual that the ruling side itself is disrupting the House.
Earlier, soon after listed papers were laid and an obituary reference made, BJP and SAD members were up on their feet raising the issue.
Naresh Gujral (SAD) said action must be taken against the AAP MP for his “trivial” behaviour.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi sought action under National Security Act against the member, saying he had exposed to terrorists the security apparatus inside the Parliament building complex.
Mann, by putting the video on security checks, positioning of security personnel and layout of Parliament House complex on social media sites, was helping terrorists succeed in their nefarious designs, Naqvi alleged.
Stating that security of Parliament was of paramount importance, Kurien said “the Government has to take cognisance of this security violation and take appropriate action.”
He went on to point out the technicalities involved in that process, saying the MP in question was a member of the other House and Lok Sabha Speaker alone could take action against him.
Government, he said, should be seized of the security violation and take appropriate actions. “Government can take legal action (against the MP),” he said adding if the Government wants a discussion a motion has to be moved.
Amid the uproar, Union Minister and Punjab MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal wanted to speak on the issue.
When Chairman Hamid Ansari asked the members to cooperate in conduct of Question Hour, Badal was heard asking if Question Hour was more important than security of Parliament.
However, Congress members were on their feet opposing the proposal. Amid the din, a Congress member was heard saying that Badal should not be allowed to speak on the issue as she is a Lok Sabha MP.
As treasury and opposition members kept speaking at same time and did not heed to repeated appeal of Chairman Hamid Ansari, the House was adourned for half an hour. Later, the House was adjourned till 2.30 pm.
However, ruling party members again demanded that Badal should be allowed to speak on the Mann issue, which was strongly opposed by Congress.
Kurien said he would permit Badal to speak but only after introuduction of private member bills. BJP members did not yield and trooped into Well.
The Deputy Chairman, while trying to persuade the BJP members to return to their seats, questioned, “How can treasury members behave like this?”
Congress MPs, some of them in isles, were saying that it was a tactics by BJP so that a private member bill regarding Andhra Pradesh could not be taken up. They said ruling party should not obstruct functioning of the House.
As the uproar continued, Kurien adjourned the House for the day. (PTI)
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