Mann is 'misusing' video controversy: Parliamentary panel

New Delhi, Aug 2: The Lok Sabha panel constituted by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to probe Bhagwant Mann's alleged breach of parliament security is of unanimous view that the Aam Aadmi Party MP is "misusing the issue" but the panel has not yet decided that what action should it recommend.

The nine-member panel, headed by BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, has been asked by Speaker Mahajan to submit its report by August 3.

Sources said that no decision has been taken yet in this regard but there is unanimity in the panel that Mann is "misusing the issue" and is now "politicising" it by deliberately dragging Prime Minister Narendra Modi into the controversy.

The panel has also taken cognizance of the letter written by three Lok Sabha members -- Mahesh Girri of the BJP, Prem Singh Chandumajra of the Akali Dal and suspended AAP lawmaker Harinder Singh Khalsa -- demanding Mann to be sent to rehabilitation centre for de-addiction.

"The panel may take notice of the letter also before presenting its report to the Lok Sabha Speaker. We will again sit tomorrow morning before submitting the report," an informed source said.

The panel has earlier expressed its displeasure over Mann's response, saying the AAP leader had mixed up his unconditional apology with references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the terror attack on the IAF base in Pathankot.

In a five-page letter to the panel, Mann said if the committee felt he had made a mistake, he was ready to tender unconditional apology.

But Mann insisted that Prime Minister Modi should also be summoned by the committee as he had allowed Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI to visit the Pathankot airbase after the terror attack.

The Speaker, who on Monday set up the panel, "advised" Mann not to attend the house till the issue is resolved, saying his act had put "security of parliament in peril".

Mann is an Aam Aadmi Party's member of the Lok Sabha from Sangrur, Punjab.

The inquiry committee will inquire into the security implications and related aspects arising out of Mann making the audio-visual recording of his entry into Parliament House.

IANS