Don't blame Bhagwant Mann, the 'parliament video' is classic AAP tactics to stay relevant

The strange spectacle of Punjab MP Bhagwant Mann of AAP doing a Facebook Live baring all the security details stunned all Indian parliamentarians. While the government is miffed, the opposition MPs are also finding it hard to explain this stunt, exposing security details of India’s seat of democracy, where there has already been a fatal attack before killing 13 security men.

During 26/11, the media was criticised for giving out critical information which aided the terrorists. It lead to much sensitisation of how to use technology. The use of technology to disseminate information needs a certain amount of discretion especially in these troubled times where terrorists of all colours are just waiting to pounce.

Unfazed by the resounding criticism, Mann promised to repeat his bravado again to give his electorates a sneak-peek of how Parliament functions. Later, Mann, in a letter to speaker Sumitra Mahajan, tendered an "unconditional apology" for the video and said he made the "mistake inadvertently" and that he had no intention of compromising the security of Parliament. "I have tendered an unconditional apology to the Speaker over the video. My intention was not to compromise the security of Parliament. "I only wanted to apprise the people of the process of selection of questions because they, at times, ask us why their questions were not raised. I wanted to show them that the questions are selected through a lucky draw. I have made an educational video," he said.

Now, it is very easy to dismiss this act of indiscretion from comedian-turned-MP Mann as churlish, naïve harakari from a first-time MP who perhaps lacks the dignity of seasoned parliamentarians. However, if one were to scratch a bit deeper, the move looks like the handiwork of the AAP modus operandi which thrives on the politics of disruption and staying in the news.

Disruption is not essentially a bad word, especially if it gives a reality check to the old guard who refuse to change and move on with the times. But when it is based on ad hominem name-calling, playing the victim, incessant retweeting or plain stupidity, like this latest Mann ka video, it only reinforces the old order and emboldens them. Genuine disruption in a given space needs rigour, intellectual honesty, patience and self-control not to hanker for attention endlessly. Unfortunately, AAP hasn’t shown either of the attributes in its brief foray in Indian electoral politics so far.

Punjab is an important state for AAP as it hopes to be an alternative to Akali-BJP who are fighting anti-incumbency and Congress- a party snoozing (literally) currently. Mann till recently was the most important AAP leader from Punjab- who made a name for himself in the Parliament for his witty interventions, most famously for his Acche Din parody. But all that may change.

With the inclusion of Navjot Singh Sidhu almost a certainty, suddenly Mann runs the risk of losing the limelight to a better known face (and a better comedian). While Kejriwal so far has been noncommittal about Sidhu’s position in the AAP hierarchy, Mann has been prompt in saying that the comedian-in-chief (Sidhu) will not  be the CM candidate. The timing of Mann’s Facebook Live looks like a very happy coincidence in this regard. The publicity trick may well crowd out Sidhu’s news for the time being and cement his place as the most prominent face of AAP in Punjab.

So far no AAP leader including Kejriwal has condemned or rebuked him. The odds of that happening also look pretty less. And for good measures, as Kejriwal himself during his 49-day stint as CM, spent a night in the pavement doing a dharna against Delhi Police. For all his words of swearing to the constitution, Kejriwal hasn’t exactly respected the system or the propriety associated with his profile. Mann has just borrowed from that playbook. It shouldn’t come as surprise to anyone.