Lok Sabha adopts motion to suspend AAP MP, party slams move

The Lok Sabha on Friday adopted a motion to suspend AAP's Bhagwant Mann, who was being probed for posting a video footage of Parliament on social media, from the house for the remaining period of the winter session. His partyu slammed the move

The move was recommended by a parliamentary committee, headed by BJP's Kirit Somaiya.

The committee's report, presented on Thursday, said: "The committee, after due deliberations, recommends that Bhagwant Mann, MP, be suspended for the remaining period of the current session, i.e. the 10th session of the 16th Lok Sabha."

The committee also said that there were repeated contradictions in his communications and therefore it felt that "tendering of his apology before the committee cannot be treated as unconditional apology".

It said: "The conduct of Mann is highly objectionable and exhibits his lack of basic knowledge and etiquette and the responsibilities of the office he holds. Mann has put the security of Parliament House and its occupants at risk."

Slamming the suspension, the AAP called it a "cruel attempt to silence of voice of smaller parties" in Parliament.

"It is a sad day for parliamentary democracy in India since an elected Member of Parliament has been deprived from raising issues of the voters who elected him," a party statement said.

It added that it was "highly regrettable" that the motion to suspend Mann was adopted when the house was "not in order".

The AAP alleged the sequence leading to formation of the committee appeared to be pre-planned with MPs belonging to Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress coming together in demanding stringent punishment to Mann.

"In the committee formed to decide Mann's fate, Dr Kirit Somaiya, Anandrao Adsul and Bhartruhari Mahtab - who had either presumed that Mann was guilty or had given notices against him - were nominated members of the Inquiry Committee.

"To top it all, Kirit Somaiya, who was on record demanding Mann's summary expulsion from the membership of the house on July 22 was duly appointed the chairperson of the committee," AAP said.

--IANS

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