New Delhi: Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for some time Thursday as Opposition members kept up their demand for a proper discussion on the security breach Wednesday.
According to reports, Lok Sabha secretariat has suspended eight security personnel, who were in charge of the chamber’s safety.
In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla told protesting MPs that everybody was concerned about Wednesday’s incident — when two men entered with valid visitors’ passes and set off smoke-emitting canisters. One of them had jumped down from the visitors’ gallery and was caught on camera leaping over benches and heading straight for the Speaker’s chair.
Birla also reminded legislators that the security of the House was the responsibility of the Lok Sabha Secretariat. “I have discussed this with you… The government cannot intervene in the functioning of the Secretariat,” he said before adjourning the House till 2 pm.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the breach unfortunate, and appealed to all MPs to be careful in the future and not randomly give out visitors’ passes. “Such incidents have happened in the old Parliament too. All measures have been taken following the incident, and directions given on future precautionary action too,” Singh told Lok Sabha MPs.
In Rajya Sabha, too, the Opposition loudly clamoured for a discussion on the incident, forcing Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar to briefly adjourn the House.
Dhankar also chastised Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’Brien for his behaviour, adding he had “committed breach of privilege”. The chairman then asked the MP to leave the House.
The breach
Five people have been arrested for Wednesday’s security breach, while cops are on the hunt for the sixth accused. The group had reportedly planned the attack for over 18 months, and was apparently part of a social media group named “Justice for Azad Bhagat Singh”.
Two of them, engineer D. Manoranjan from Mysuru and Lucknow graduate Sagar Sharma, ran amok in the lower house Wednesday, before being overpowered by MPs and taken into custody by security personnel.
Another two from the group, civil service aspirant from Hisar, Neelam Azad, and Latur graduate Anmol Shinde, shouted slogans outside Parliament, and also set off gas canisters. “Dictatorship will not work,” they screamed.
The fifth to be arrested was Gurgaon’s Lalit Jha, at whose house the protesters stayed. Another suspected accused, believed to be named Vicky or Vishal Sharma, is absconding.
Manoranjan and Sharma allegedly got visitors’ passes on the authorisation of BJP MP from Mysusr, Prathap Simha. Manoranjan belongs to his constituency.
The Delhi Police has reportedly registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the Parliament security breach. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has also ordered a probe, to be headed by CRPF director general Anish Dayal Singh.