Panel probing Mann videography issue gets another extension

New Delhi : The parliamentary panel probing Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann’s alleged act of filming security sensitive areas of Parliament complex and uploading the video on the social media site has got an extension till the first week of next (winter) session of Parliament, which usually begins in the first week of November. Informing about the decision, panel chief and BJP MP Kirit Somaiya said, “Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has extended the tenure of the committee to complete its probe into the conduct of Mann till November, which is the first week of the winter session of Parliament.”The panel was earlier given a two-week extension and was to submit its report on Thursday. Last week, the panel had heard security personnel deployed at the gate from where the AAP MP entered the high-security zone while making the video.The purpose behind calling these personnel was to find out if there were any loopholes in the security apparatus and what actually transpired that day when the AAP MP entered the complex.Somaiya has said earlier that the committee will submit its report in two parts–one related to the role of Mann in exposing the Parliament security and the other suggesting corrective measures.The nine-member committee was set up to probe the incident termed by many as a “serious breach” of security of the Parliament House complex.A cross-section of MPs had questioned the “improper conduct” of Mann in filming the Parliament House complex and posting “critical footage” on social media. In view of the seriousness of the matter, the AAP MP from Sangrur has been asked by the Speaker not to attend the sittings of the House till a decision had been taken. But a defiant Mann has maintained that he did no wrong and his intention was to make people aware of the parliamentary procedures. Besides Somaiya, the panel has members Meenakshi Lekhi and Satyapal Singh (BJP), Anandrao Adsul (Shiv Sena), B Mahtab (BJD), Ratna De (TMC), Thota Narasimham (TDP), KC Venugopal (Congress) and P Venugopal (AIADMK).