New Delhi : Ruling BJP members today forced an adjournment of Rajya Sabha till noon demanding action against Aam Aadmi Party’s Lok Sabha MP Bhagwant Mann for allegedly compromising security by videographing the Parliament complex and putting it on social media.
Admitting that the matter was very serious, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said the government has to take cognisance of the security violation and take appropriate legal action.
If members wanted a discussion on the issue, an appropriate resolution has to be brought, he said. While criticising Mann, the Opposition Congress and CPI-M wanted to know what action the government has taken for the serious security breach and what stopped it from pressing in Lok Sabha, where the BJP has absolute majority, to take action against the member of that House.
Even as Kurien read out procedure of rule 267 under which adjournment of proceedings for taking up a discussion was sought, BJP members shouting slogans moved into the aisles, forcing him to adjourn the House till noon.
Earlier, soon after listed papers were laid and an obituary reference made, BJP and SAD members were up on their feet raising the issue. Naresh Gujral (SAD) said action must be taken against the AAP MP for his “trivial” behaviour.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi sought action under National Security Act against the member as he had exposed to terrorists the security apparatus inside the Parliament building complex.
Mann, by putting the video on security checks, positioning of security personnel and layout of Parliament House complex on social media sites, was helping terrorist succeed in their nefarious designs, Naqvi claimed.
Stating that security of parliament was of paramount importance, Kurien said “the government has to take cognisance of this security violation and take appropriate action.”
He went on to point out to the technicalities involved in that process, saying the MP in question was a member of the other House and Lok Sabha Speaker could alone take action against him.
Government, he said, should be seized of the security violation and take appropriate actions. “Government can take legal action (against the MP),” he said adding if the government wants a discussion a motion has to be moved.
PTI