NEW DELHI, Dec 13
The major security breach in Parliament Wednesday proves that necessary safety precautions were not in place, said parties from the Opposition INDIA bloc Wednesday as they decided to mount pressure on the government and seek a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah. The parties are also considering the option of meeting President Droupadi Murmu.
The Opposition is keen to pursue the issue given that the passes for the two intruders were facilitated by BJP MP from Karnataka Prathap Simha.
At an all-party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Opposition members from several parties demanded the Home Ministry carry out a security review of Parliament and take action against Simha.
At the meeting, leaders of the Trinamool Congress cited the case of expelled MP Mahua Moitra while seeking action against Simha. TMC leaders Sudip Bandhopadhya and Kalyan Banerjee pointed out that Moitra was expelled for letting outsiders use her Parliament log-in credentials. Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury demanded a thorough investigation.
Apparently referring to Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s reported threat to attack Parliament, Chowdhury asked: “Still why did such a lapse happen? Arrangements for visitors and security checks have not been made in the new Parliament building. All, including MPs, security personnel and visitors are allowed (into the building) through one gate.”
He said there were reports that the two were allowed to stay in the Visitors’ Gallery even after their time had elapsed.
In Rajya Sabha, members of the INDIA bloc walked out after the government did not accept their demand for a statement by the Home Minister. Sources said leaders of the INDIA parties will meet Thursday morning at Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge’s chamber to finalise their Floor strategy and the plan to seek an audience with the President.
“The Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha kept accusing INDIA parties of ‘politicising’ the shocking and appalling breach of security within the Lok Sabha today… He had no answers to serious questions being raised on how such a breach could take place in a building heralded by the PM for its technological marvels, and how the intruders had come as visitors thanks to a high-profile sitting BJP MP from Karnataka,” Congress communication head Jairam Ramesh said.
“We demand that the Home Minister should come to both the Houses and give a statement on this.
The question is, how did two people come inside such a big security department and release gas from a canister there,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said.
“The infiltration in the Lok Sabha is extremely troubling, especially on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attacks. I am glad there was no major injury or damage done to anyone. Parliament is among the most high-security buildings of our country.
Such a major security lapse is unacceptable. We demand answers from the Home Ministry and there must be a thorough review of the security arrangements in the new Parliament building,” Congress Rajya Sabha K C Venugopal said.
Some Opposition leaders demanded a probe by a joint Parliamentary panel.
“BJP MP gave pass for security breachers in Parliament. They talk loud about security of the country. They spent crores on building a fortress for the mother of democracy. Had it been an opposition MP with a muslim name? A joint parliamentary committee probe needed in this,” CPI Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam said in a post on X.
“An impermissible security lapse on the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attack on Parliament. The investigation must be thorough & speedy including the BJP MP from Karnataka who sponsored the entry of these people as visitors,” said CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor alleged that the new Parliament “does not seem to be configured very well when it comes to security” and that the Home Minister “must come with a detailed response on the security arrangements”. DMK’s Tiruchi Siva said those who jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery were not wounded and “it seems that they were trained”. He said the incident happened on the day Parliament was attacked by terrorists 22 years ago. “It seems someone is signalling something. This is a security lapse. Never has such an incident happened inside Parliament after Independence,” Siva said.
