Mann rejects request to appear before Parliamentary panel

Bhagwant Mann is a 42 year old member of Parliament from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He represents the Sangrur constituency, Punjab, in the Lok Sabha.

He joined active politics in 2011 and has been affiliated with AAP since 2014.

In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he won by a record margin of 200,000 votes by defeating a prominent leader of Shiromani Akali Dal.

In order to allow his constituency an insight into parliamentary proceedings, Bhagwant Mann recorded and uploaded to Facebook an extensive 12 minute video of the Parliament complex.

The video shows Parliament's security pickets and the room where questions for Zero hour are screened.

All parties were furious with Mann's 'highly irresponsible' act. However, he remained unapologetic and defiant and insisted he would post again.

AAP MP, Bhagwant Mann, today changed tact from his defiant stance yesterday.

He offered an unconditional apology for recording and uploading the video; he was also willing to co-operate with any investigation conducted by a committee of law makers.

Today in the Lok Sabha, treasury benches were up in arms and along with opposition parties demanded a privilege notice be served on Mann.

Suspended AAP MP Harinder Khalsa, added to the woes of AAP MP Bhagwant Mann by accusing him of being drunk in Parliament on several occasions.

Khalsa said he would feel nauseous at times in the House due to the unbearable "stink" of alcohol coming from Bhagwant Mann.

Mann has tendered an apology to speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who is still considering taking action against him.

AAP MP Bhagwant Mann has been barred from participating in Parliament pending a probe initiated into allegations of security breach and inebriation against him.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has formed a committee to look into the allegations against Mann and recommend suitable action against him.

So far there has been no official response from the AAP or Mann over the development.

Several MPs in Lok Sabha have written to speaker Sumitra Mahajan, requesting that she should direct AAP MP Bhagwant Mann to go through drug and alcohol rehabilitation at the Lok Sabha's expense.

They also requested that Mann should not be allowed to attend Parliament until he completes his rehabilitation.

The request was also supported by suspended AAP MP Harinder Singh Khalsa.

Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked AAP MP Bhagwant Mann to abstain from parliamentary proceedings for 2 weeks.

She added that the parliamentary panel would extend its investigation into Mann's transgressions by another 2 weeks.

Panel Chairman Kirit Somaiya said that he sought more time as more witnesses are needed to be examined before the panel could arrive at a decision.

The parliamentary probe panel which was looking into the Bhagwant Mann videography incident has been given an extension until late November.

Panel chairman Kirit Somaiya said that Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had granted an extension until the first week of the Winter Session of Parliament.

The panel is expected to deliver its verdict in 2 parts: on Mann's transgression and on possible corrective measures.

AAP MP Bhagwant Mann who is under investigation for breaching security protocols at the Parliamentary complex has rejected a request to appear before the investigating panel this week.

Mann said he is campaigning for the elections in Punjab and "he will be there for the November 28 hearing."

Kirit Somaiya who is heading the panel said Mann was "summoned" not "requested."