Mann rejects alcoholic charge, seeks dope tests on all MPs

Gagan K. Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 23

Aam Aadmi Party MP from Sangrur Bhagwant Mann today demanded dope tests on all MPs. He said he would be the first one to undergo the test to silence his critics who had been accusing him of being alcoholic.

He lashed out at AAP’s suspended MP Harinder Singh Khalsa, who on Friday met Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan urging her to change his seat because “it is difficult to sit beside Mann who smells of alcohol”. Mann said there was a deliberate attempt to tarnish his image.

Bhagwant Mann alleged that Khalsa could not bear the fact that AAP was doing so well despite their efforts to pull the party down by levelling false allegations. His allegations were baseless and it was shocking that Khalsa had gone to this level to gain publicity, he added.

‘Nothing wrong in video’

Mann claimed that he did not do anything wrong by making a video of Parliament and the demand for his suspension was uncalled for. He said people had elected him and sent him to Parliament and he just wanted to show them how it worked.

“I don’t understand what is wrong about it. All political parties have united over the issue calling it a security breach. They have never united over any genuine issue, which is unfortunate. I wish they come together quite often on issues concerning the common man,” he rued.

Aam Aadmi Party defends Sangrur MP 

Ludhiana: AAP leader Sanjay Singh during a rally here on Friday evening denied that the video made by Mann compromised the security of Parliament. He said the video was made to show that only a handful of MP’s were allowed to raise the issues of people through the lottery system. He said the talk of security breach was a mere allegation by other parties, including the BJP. “Those who allow ISI to come here are now talking about security breach,” he said. — TNS

Sack Mann, demands Sirsa 

New Delhi: Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Adviser to Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, demanded the dismissal of AAP MP Bhagwant Mann from Parliament for endangering the security of the country. Mann’s offence should not be pardoned because of his apology, he said. Sirsa stated that after criticism from all quarters, Mann has resorted to the drama of an apology to end the controversy. — TNS