AAP alleges witchhunt after extension to House panel probing Bhagwant Mann

NEW DELHI: Slamming the decision to grant extension to the Lok Sabha panel probing AAP MP Bhagwant Mann's videography issue, his party alleged it was an "unprecedented witchhunt" with the entire BJP "ganging up" against him.

AAP leader Ashutosh alleged that on July 18, "two officials of the Home Ministry" had showed up at a Naturopathy Clinic in Bengaluru where Mann was undergoing treatment. The officals enquired about the Sangrur MP and took pictures, he claimed.

Ashutosh said this vindicated AAP's stand that its MPs and MLAs were being "houded" by the Narendra Modi dispensation.

Khetan said that by providing an extension to the BJP MP Kirti Somaiya-headed nine-member panel, a perception was being created that Mann had committed a "blunder" or a "terror act". The matter should have ended with Mann's unconditional apology in the floor of the House, Khetan said.

"This is an unprecedented witchhunt against a lone MP. His voice is being gagged as he consistenly raises issues such as farm crisis in Punjab. The same Parliament has 34 per cent MPs with criminal cases pending against them.

"Why no action is taken against BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri who had used disparaging language against members of the minority community on the floor of the House?" Khetan asked.

Ashutosh alleged that two "inebriated" BJP MPs, had recently abused TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar in the Parliament House premises, "but they have not been acted against".

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today granted two more weeks to the Lok Sabha panel probing the issue regarding Mann shooting a video of the Parliament complex and asked the AAP member not to attend the House till a decision was taken on the matter.

Kirit Somaiya said the panel would consult experts before deciding on the matter.