Lok Sabha Speaker said- There is no connection between the suspension of MPs and the incident of Parliament security violation.
New Delhi: Three days after the security breach in Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla wrote a letter to all Parliament members, saying there is no connection between the security breach and the recent suspension of 13 MPs from the lower house.
A total of 13 MPs were suspended from Parliament on Thursday for “creating a ruckus” in the House demanding statements on the violations.
Of the 13 MPs suspended from the Lok Sabha, nine are from Congress, two from CPM, one from CPI and one from DMK.
Speaker Birla, in his letter, said it is “unfortunate” that some members and political parties are linking the House’s decision to suspend some members to the incident of Parliament security lapse.
“This is unfair,” the letter said. There is no connection between the suspension of the Honorable Members and the incident that occurred on December 13, 2023. The suspension of the honorable members is purely to maintain the sanctity of the House.”
Om Birla said, “We know very well that the people of our country do not appreciate inappropriate conduct and disruption during the proceedings of the House. That is why we are unanimous that we will set the highest standards of parliamentary decorum and dignity.” Adding that he was “forced to take strict action of suspending the members”.
Birla said, “At the time of the inauguration of the new building of our Parliament, we had resolved that we will refrain from bringing placards inside the House; We will not create ruckus in the well of the House.”
The Lok Sabha Speaker also said that a high-level committee has been formed to investigate the incident of security lapse.
The letter said, “A high-level committee has been formed to thoroughly investigate the incident that took place inside the House. The committee has started working. The report of this committee will be shared with the House soon.”
Apart from this, I have also constituted a high-powered committee which will review various aspects of security in the Parliament complex and prepare a concrete action plan to ensure that such incidents do not happen.
On December 13, two men jumped from the viewing gallery above the Lok Sabha chamber and blew smoke into Parliament, causing panic on a day when India observed the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack.
The security breach occurred on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terrorist attack. Two men – Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D – jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and raised anti-government slogans before being restrained by MPs.
Outside this, in another incident, two protesters – Neelam (42) and Amol (25) – protested outside Parliament with similar gas canisters. However, all four were sent to seven-day custody of Delhi Police Special Cell on Thursday.
The fifth accused Lalit Jha, who allegedly planned the incident, has also been arrested and Mahesh Kumawat is the sixth accused arrested in the case.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police on Saturday informed the Patiala House Court that the conspiracy to breach Parliament security had been going on for over last year, and the freshly arrested accused Mahesh had attended all the meetings held in different cities in this regard.
Public prosecutor advocate Akhand Pratap Singh, appearing for the Special Cell of Delhi Police, told the court that Mahesh has been associated with other accused for the last two years.
The police further claimed that he (Mahesh) along with others wanted to create anarchy in the country so that they could force the government to meet their unjust and illegal demands.
Meanwhile, opposition MPs from India Bloc are demanding Home Minister Amit Shah to say something on the security lapse incident.
Earlier today, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated his demand for a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah in the House.
Taking aim at the BJP-led central government over large-scale security violations, the Congress president said BJP leaders were not ready to allow the House to function.
“This is a serious issue and the government should pay attention to it. We are repeatedly saying in the Parliament that the Union Home Minister should come to the House and give a statement but he does not want to come. They (BJP) are not ready to let the House function. This is not a good thing for democracy but there is no point in talking to people who do not believe in democracy,” Kharge told ANI.
