Mann Ka Video: Party defends Bhagwant, Congress deems AAP 'unfit' to hold positions

Under mounting attack over the Parliament video row, AAP MP Bhagwant Mann said he was ready for any probe after tendering an unconditional apology even as the party rallied behind him, saying BJP was trying to hype up a "non-issue" to deflect attention from attacks on Dalits in Gujarat. As Mann's filming of his drive into Parliament building accompanied with a running commentary rocked both houses of Parliament, the MP from Punjab said he had deleted the video from his Facebook wall and that his intention was not to compromise security of the institution.

Defending Mann, AAP said the video did not amount to security breach, and accused the BJP of trying to deflect attention from the issue of attacks on Dalits in Gujarat. Earlier 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.

Party leader Ashutosh said the Lok Sabha member from Sangrur was only trying to "show" the procedure of asking questions during the Zero Hour.

"Adityanath, Sakshi Maharaj, Giriraj Singh are the biggest threat to country's security and these leaders will add glory to Parliament, while Bhagwant Mann will be booked under NSA? What justice is this? (sic)" AAP leader Sanjay Singh tweeted. However, party sources said the controversy could have been avoided.

Asked about Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's assertion that "appropriate action" will be taken in the matter termed by her as "too serious", Mann said, "I am ready for any kind of a probe and I will cooperate with that. "I have promised to the Speaker that it (the act) will not be repeated in the future. I have also deleted the video from my Facebook wall." 

Mann accused his political opponents of raking up the issue for "vested interest". "I went to Parliament in an authorised car and I did not take any unauthorised person along with me. Political parties are unnecessarily raking up this issue. This is the first time that the Congress and the BJP are together on an issue in Parliament. I have not shown the House of Parliament in the video," he claimed.

"There are several instances where members of the House were charged with hurting its dignity and the matter ended with their apologies," he added. When asked if he had made a mistake by making a video on the security of Parliament, Mann said, "I have written in my letter of apology that it was an unintentional (compromising the security of Parliament) act." In the nearly 12-minute video that he shared live on Facebook, Mann filmed his vehicle crossing security barricades and him entering Parliament yesterday.

Terming Parliament as the highest temple of democracy, he said his intent was not to "dishonour it".  "I have not played with anything (security). I have never and it has never been my intent to compromise the security of Parliament. For asking questions during the Zero Hour, there is a lucky draw and only 20 questions are selected," he said.

Mann's video shows AAP not 'fit' to hold positions: Congress 

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today said what Bhagwant Mann did in Parliament, for which he has tendered an unconditional apology, has only "vindicated and validated" the public perception about him and his party that they are not "fit" to hold positions they have occupied. "It is a classic case of a fool rushing in where angels fear to tread," he said in a statement, while referring to his live streaming of Parliament activities.

"The comedy of errors, one after the another, enacted during the last couple of weeks by AAP leaders has only proved the public fears right that they are not capable to hold the positions they have got and are further aspiring for," the former chief minister said. He pointed out, the Congress party has been consistently reminding people as how "ill-experienced and mentally ill-equipped" they (AAP leaders) are for the role they are aspiring for.

"They have proved it themselves, beyond any doubt or suspicion as what their priorities are and what these will be," he said, adding that running a state requires much more than a comic stage performance, which they tend to repeat every now and then.

Suspended AAP MLA  claims Mann drunk in parliament 

AAP MP Bhagwant Mann was under attack not only for making video of Parliament but also alleged drinking, with the suspended member of his party and MP Harinder Singh Khalsa complaining to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan about it today. Khalsa wrote to the Speaker, requesting her that his seat in the Lok Sabha be changed as Mann, who sits next to him, stinks of alcohol.

Both Mann and Khalsa were elected on AAP tickets but the latter was suspended from the party over a year back. Khalsa, Lok Sabha member from Fatehgarh Sahib, has seat number 495 allotted to him in the House while Mann's seat number is 496. He wrote to the Speaker that he gets stink of alcohol everyday from the next seat. "I am a practising Sikh who comes to Parliament after offering prayers and there I get the stink," said the 69- year-old MP.

He said the Speaker has assured him that his seat will be changed. Mahajan, when asked by reporters about the issue, acknowledged receipt of Khalsa's letter. Mann has already courted controversy for making a video of his route and entry to Parliament, giving details of the security arrangements. Several parties, including Akali Dal, BJP and Shiv Sena, are demanding stern action against him.