Two rules for two MPs?: Congress leader hits out at BJP's Pratap Simha amid Parliament security lapse
Dec 13, 2023
New Delhi [India], December 13 : 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?"
There was a huge security breach during Zero Hour in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon after two men -- Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan -- both carrying canisters that emitted yellow smoke, jumped from the visitors' gallery into the Lok Sabha chamber before they were overpowered by the MPs. Similarly, in another incident, two protestors -- Neelam (42) and Amol (25) -- protested outside the Parliament with similar gas canisters. However, all four were detained later.
Meanwhile, as per sources, Simha has briefed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla about the accused persons, whom he allegedly issued Parliament passes.
Sources said that Simha told the Speaker that the father of one of the intruders belonged to his constituency and he had requested a visitors' pass to visit the new Parliament building.
The intruder was constantly in touch with his personal assistant (PA) and his office for the visitors' pass, sources said.
Simha also told the LS Speaker that he had no further information apart from what he had stated, they added.
Earlier in the day, Trinamool Congress leader Shashi Panja demanded the expulsion of Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pratap Simha from Lok Sabha for "issuing passes to the Lower House intruders". She also said that the lawmaker of the ruling party compromised 'national security'.
"BJP MP Pratap Simha gave two (Parliament) passes through which these two people (intruders) entered. The security of the Parliament and the country was breached. TMC's Mahua Moitra was expelled for sharing her login ID and password, which became a question of national security. Today the BJP MP has done an irresponsible act by giving passes to both of them. So this is the demand of AITC that the MP be expelled from Parliament because national security has been compromised here," the TMC leader said.
Delhi Police sources said that initial investigations revealed that all four people and one unidentified fifth person came from outside the national capital and stayed at the residence of a man in Gurugram.
"A manhunt has been launched to nab the remaining two," they added.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police officials said that Neelam and Amol, who were detained from outside Parliament in front of Transport Bhawan, in preliminary investigations, revealed that they were not carrying mobile phones or any other identity proof.
Both have refused to have any connection with any organisation, they said.
Earlier in the day, senior officials of the Intelligence Bureau visited the new Parliament building, where the major security breach happened.
