AAP’s Mann may not face any action

THE MP FROM PUNJAB’S SANGRUR SHOT A VIDEO IN JULY THIS YEAR TRACKING HIS JOURNEY FROM HIS DELHI HOME TO PARLIAMENT

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann may not face any further action for a controversial video that allegedly breached Parliament’s security.

The parliamentarian from Punjab’s Sangrur shot a video in July this year tracking his journey from his Delhi home to Parliament building.

Amid all-round criticism against the MP, speaker Sumitra Mahajan also formed a panel to recommend suitable action against Mann and possible changes in the rules to prevent such breaches in future.

“The majority of members in the panel feel that there can’t be any further against Mann. He has already stayed out of the House during the last session after the speaker advised him to do so. That’s enough deterrent for him,” said a senior member of the panel.

“As far as the issue of rules is concerned, the Speaker can always ask for proposals from the rules panel,” the member added. Another member brushed aside panel chairman Kirit Somaiyya’s plans to mull frisking for MPs.

“The Prime Minister and the Speaker have attained their positions on the basis of their membership in the House. We must remember these things before planning any drastic measures,” said the member of the panel.

Somaiyya has called a meeting on November 10 to prepare the report. Earlier the BJP members of the panel confronted Mann as the AAP MP accused PM Narendra Modi of compromising national security by allowing Pakistan’s ISI to enter Pathankot airbase in the garb of doing a probe. He also cited how a BJP MP violated security in 2005 by bringing his Mercedes into the Parliament complex with a false car-pass.

Mann has taken his tussle with the BJP on a political level, accusing the rival party of conspiracy to stop him attending Parliament ahead of the polls in Punjab next year.