Mann says political twist being given to apology for parliament live streaming

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader from Punjab Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday accused the Centre and other opposition parties of giving a political twist to his apology to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan with regard to his controversial live streaming of parliament.

Addressing media here, Mann said, "My apology has not been accepted. It is being given a political twist and colour. The opposition and my rivals are saying that my membership of parliament should be terminated; that I am a danger to this country."

Referring to his apology for live streaming his arrival in parliament on Facebook last week, Mann said, "So, I tendered an apology in writing, saying that It was unintentional and I was only trying to make an educational video."

"I explained my stand to LS Speaker, and she said what I did was not right and I should apologise," he added.

Mann was speaking a day after Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan announced a nine member panel to probe the incident. On Tuesday, it was expected that Mann would appear before the panel to give his defence of the episode, but he did not.

He has, however, downplayed the controversy surrounding the live streaming of his arrival at parliament, and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi be expelled for compromising national security by allowing a team from Pakistan to investigate the Pathankot Air Force base after a terror attack in January this year.

Extremely upset with the flurry of criticism against him by the opposition parties, Mann said that this was a political conspiracy aimed at maligning the AAP's reputation ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls.

On his intention behind making the video, Mann said that he just wanted to make the people of the nation aware that how their grievances are picked up for discussion in the Parliament.

Mann has consistently maintained that he never wanted to jeopardise Parliament's security. He says that he belives that the people who have elected Members of Parliament have every right to know how their issues are raised in both Houses.