JOIN USControversial Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lawmaker Bhagwant Mann on Thursday questioned the rationale of constituting a Parliamentary committee to probe his act of filming his way into Parliament.
Mann appeared before the nine-member committee constituted by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Thursday and submitted a five-page letter in which he apologised for his actions. But Mann reiterated his demand for expanding the ambit of the committee to summon Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and at the same time asserted that the probe should be wound up.
“We have given him two more days to clear his confusion or contradiction and correct his written response to the committee,” said Kirit Somaiya, chairman of the probe committee.
In his deposition before the committee, Mann sought to raise the issue of the prime minister “compromising” on national security by allowing a Pakistani investigation team to visit Pathankot airbase, which came under terror attack in January. “You stick to your statement. Your action has made Parliament security vulnerable,” a committee member told Mann. The committee also strongly disapproved of Mann treating the incident “casually”. The AAP member has been asked to appear before the committee on Monday at 3 pm when he may be subjected to cross-questioning by the members.
Earlier in the day, Mann had sought permission of the committee to bring along a lawyer to argue on his behalf. The plea was rejected by the committee after due consultation with the Speaker.