Par video issue: AAP defends Mann, hits out at BJP

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Jul 22 2016 | 7:58 PM IST
Under mounting attack over the Parliament video row, AAP MP Bhagwant Mann today said he was ready for any probe after tendering an unconditional apology even as the party rallied behind him, saying BJP was trying to hype up a "non-issue" to deflect attention from attacks on Dalits in Gujarat.
As Mann's filming of his drive into Parliament building accompanied with a running commentary rocked both houses of Parliament, the MP from Punjab said he had deleted the video from his Facebook wall and that his intention was not to compromise security of the institution.
Defending Mann, AAP said the video did not amount to security breach, and accused the BJP of trying to deflect attention from the issue of attacks on Dalits in Gujarat.
Earlier Mann, in a letter to speaker Sumitra Mahajan, tendered an "unconditional apology" for the video and said he made the "mistake inadvertently" and that he had no intention of compromising the security of Parliament.
"I have tendered an unconditional apology to the Speaker over the video. My intention was not to compromise the security of Parliament.
"I only wanted to apprise the people of the process of selection of questions because they, at times, ask us why their questions were not raised. I wanted to show them that the questions are selected through a lucky draw. I have made an educational video," he said.
Party leader Ashutosh said the Lok Sabha member from Sangrur was only trying to "show" the procedure of asking questions during the Zero Hour.
"Adityanath, Sakshi Maharaj, Giriraj Singh are the biggest threat to country's security and these leaders will add glory to Parliament, while Bhagwant Mann will be booked under NSA? What justice is this? (sic)" AAP leader Sanjay Singh tweeted.
However, party sources said the controversy could have been avoided.
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First Published: Jul 22 2016 | 7:58 PM IST