AAP lawmaker Bhagwant Mann wants PM Modi's dig removed from parliament records
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Bhagwant Mann has threatened to report Prime Minister Narendra Modi for breach of privilege if a jibe he made during his speech in parliament yesterday is not deleted.
PM Modi, while responding to opposition criticism about the government's policies, had made a passing reference to Mr Mann's alleged drinking, which had many lawmakers roaring with laughter.
The AAP lawmaker, however, was far from amused and was caught on camera glaring at the Prime Minister and even standing up to protest.
PM Modi was quoting Charvaka philosophy to make a point when he turned to Mr Mann, who has recently faced allegations of arriving drunk to public meetings during his campaign. "As long as you are alive, have fun.
Karz Karo aur ghee piyo (take loans and have as much ghee or clarified butter as you want). In those times, there were values, they talked about ghee. Bhagwant Mann would ask them to drink something else," he quipped.
A furious Mr Mann came out of parliament and declared that the "PM has lowered the dignity of the house." He also vehemently denied any drinking problem and said there should be an alcometre test "right now" to check the truth.
The Prime Minister's comment, said Mr Mann, betrayed his BJP's nervousness about the Punjab election result and AAP's impact. Despite starring in multiple controversies, the 43-year-old stand-up comic remains closest to what AAP calls a Chief Ministerial candidate for Punjab.
Today, after the PM spoke in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Mann remarked, "Modi's speech for an hour and 45 minutes had 'dohas' in Sanskrit and 'jumlas'."
Last year, a written complaint went to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan from a suspended AAP lawmaker who is allotted the seat next to Mr Mann in parliament. Ms Mahajan said other MPs had also complained about his alleged drinking.
Recently, Mr Mann was seen struggling to get up from the floor in newspaper photographs. He denies he is anything more than a social drinker.
Last year, the lawmaker spent a long stretch outside parliament for filming his journey to parliament, which, according to other MPs, severely compromised security.