Parliament security breach: Opposition demands investigation; MHA orders enquiry
Dec 13, 2023
New Delhi [India], December 13 : In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, Congress on Wednesday demanded answers from the government on the "serious security breach" in Lok Sabha, saying does the incident "not prove that necessary precautions were not taken".
After which the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered an enquiry into a parliament security breach incident.
MHA has posted on X, "On request from Lok Sabha Secretariat, MHA has ordered an enquiry of parliament security breach incident. An Enquiry Committee has been set up under Anish Dayal Singh, DG, CRPF, with members from other security agencies and experts."
Lok Sabha Secretary General has written to the Home Ministry to conduct a high level inquiry into the entire incident.
In a post on X, party president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the security breach that took place in Parliament is a very serious matter.
"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," Kharge said.
Recalling the time of former Prime Minister Vajpayee, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said that the former PM was among the very first calls he received from Sonia Gandhi inquiring about his safety.
"On December 13, 2001, when the terror attack on Parliament took place, Prime Minister Vajpayee would later recall that among the very first calls he received was from Sonia Gandhi inquiring about his safety. He used to quote this example of the strength of Indian democracy. A strength that the present PM and the HM do their best to destroy day in and day out," Ramesh posted on X.
Congress Leader Dr Syed Naseer Hussain said that a thorough probe should be conducted into this and the report should be made public.
"23 years ago the same incident took place and today there was again a security lapse... A thorough probe should be conducted into this and the report should be made public... The accused should be punished," Hussain said.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore raised concerns about the alleged involvement of BJP MP Pratap Simha in providing Parliament passes to the individuals responsible for triggering panic in the Lok Sabha by intruding with gas canisters. Tagore questioned whether any action would be taken against BJP leader, drawing attention to the suspension of Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, who lost her seat for a password-related issue, and questioned if there are 'two rules for two different members of Parliament'.
The Congress leader, sharing a photo of Simha with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his X handle, said, "This Mr Pratap Simha BJP MP gave Pass to those who attacked Parliament. Will action be taken against the BJP MP who gave the Pass? When an MP lost her seat for a Password. Two rules for two MPs?"
Mysuru Congress workers staged a protest in front of BJP Lok Sabha MP Pratap Simha's office over the security breach incident in Lok Sabha. Later, they were detained by the police.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant called the Parliament security breach a serious issue.
"I was present in the house... The unidentified man (who jumped from the visitors' gallery) had something in his shoes and a yellow colour gas came out of it. It is a serious issue," Arvind Sawant said.
However, the Guardian Minister of Parbhani, Sanjay Bansode said that the security breach is a very serious issue and they will do a thorough investigation.
"I have spoken to SP of Latur. Amol Shinde the man who entered Parliament stays in Latur. The preliminary information about him is that he appeared for various police recruitment exams but failed several times. His family is unaware of this incident. I have instructed SP to do a detailed inquiry about him and his family and if he is connected to any organisations or groups. This is a very serious issue and we will do a thorough investigation," he added.
On the 22nd anniversary of the Parliament terror attack, there was a major security breach when two intruders entered the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitor gallery during Zero Hour.
In a security breach in Lok Sabha, two men jumped into the House from the visitors' gallery and had canisters in their hand, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said.
They released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by MPs.
Visuals showed an unidentified man jumping from the visitor's gallery of Lok Sabha after which there was a slight commotion. The House was adjourned till 2 pm.
The incident happened when members were raising matters of urgent public importance and BJP MP Khagen Murmu was raising his issue.
Simultaneously, two individuals, including a woman, sprayed colored gas and shouted slogans outside the Parliament premises.
Earlier in the day, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said that two men jumped into the House from the visitor's gallery and had canisters in their hands.