Uproar in Parliament over AAP member's video

Both houses of parliament witnessed uproarious scenes on Friday, leading to their adjournment, over the video footage circulated by Aam Aadmi Party Lok Sabha member Bhagwant Mann.

As soon as the house assembled, several BJP members including Kirit Somaiya, R.K. Singh and others including from the Akali Dal were up on their feet demanding action against Mann.

The AAP MP from Sangrur in Punjab wanted to say something but nothing could be heard in the din.

Mann on Thursday shot a video clip of his journey from home to parliament, including going past the various security pickets, and uploaded it on the social media, drawing flak from various quarters for putting Parliament security in peril.

The Speaker summoned Mann to her chamber to explain his position.

The AAP lawmaker later appeared before the Speaker.

The issue was raised in the Rajya Sabha also with members including Anand Sharma of the Congress) and Sitaram Yechury of the CPI-M maintaining that the issue amounted to breach of security and privilege of members of Parliament.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi too described the matter as serious and said the government and the Lok Sabha Speaker are seized of it.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said there is no doubt about the seriousness of the issue. However, as pandemonium continued for a while, Kurien adjourned the house till 12 noon.

Earlier, outside Parliament, Naqvi told reporters that "the circulation of such video footage was against parliamentary rules at a time when terrorists are looking for opportunities to attack".

"Giving out such sensitive information and video footage of sensitive areas of Parliament is wrong."

In the video that went viral, Mann is seen giving commentary as his vehicle crosses security barricades, while going to Parliament. "I'll today show you something you would not have seen earlier," Mann said at the beginning of the video.

Inside Parliament, he goes into the room where the process of selection of questions for the Zero Hour is done. As he describes the process, a security official is heard telling him not to take photographs. "I'll not take photo... will maintain confidentiality," Mann says in his reply.

--IANS

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