There have been “nearly 40” security breaches in Parliament in the past, including some where intruders took a gun inside the House, Union Home Minister Amit Shah revealed on Thursday evening.
The statement assumes significance in the current context when four people breached Parliament’s security, including two who used yellow smoke canisters inside Lok Sabha.
Detailing some of the breaches in the past, Shah said: “There have been nearly 40 incidents which included throwing leaflets, raising slogans, taking a pistol inside or jumping inside the House — there have been numerous such incidents.” Highlighting the procedure, he added that each time, respective Lok Sabha Speakers take cognizance of such matters and investigate them after constituting a committee. Shah was speaking at a media conclave in Delhi on Thursday evening.
The Opposition has been demanding action against Prathap Simha, the BJP MP from Karnataka who signed the gate pass allowing the entry of accused Sagar Sharma who jumped into the Lok Sabha from the visitors’ gallery and released coloured smoke from a canister that he had hidden inside his shoe.
The opposition’s protest over the issues stalled the proceedings of the House and resulted in 14 opposition MPs being suspended.
While Shah accepted that there has been a “lapse”, he alleged that the opposition was “politicising the matter”. However, he assured that the high-level committee will submit its report on the reason of lapse and steps to strengthen the security of the House in “15-20 days” to Speaker Om Birla.
Shah, while admitting to “loopholes”, said: “Many a times, intruders explore new ways to breach security and look for loopholes. In an ideal situation, there shouldn’t be any loopholes. But if they have found one, it’s our responsibility to fill it.” He appealed that the incident “shouldn’t be made a political agenda”.
At least eight Delhi Police personnel have been placed under suspension over the security breach on Wednesday — the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack when five terrorists had entered the complex, killing eight security personnel and a gardener.
Sources connected to the investigation told News18 that the accused — seven in total — planned the breach for December 14 but due to an error in the issuance of visitor’s pass, it was moved to December 13.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a meeting with top ministers on Thursday morning to discuss the security breach.
Delhi Police’s anti-terror cell is questioning six accused. The four arrested in connection with the breach in Parliament have been charged under anti-terror law — Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), besides sections of the Indian Penal Code.
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