Parliament Today: Both Houses disrupted on opposition uproar over security breach incident
New Delhi: Both the Houses of Parliament today witnessed continuous disruption following opposition uproar over yesterday’s Lok Sabha security breach incident. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have been adjourned for the day.
In the Lok Sabha, when the House met after the second adjournment at 3 PM, opposition members continued with their sloganeering over the incident. They were demanding Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in the matter as well as action. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a motion to suspend nine opposition members from the House for the remaining part of the Winter Session for their unruly behaviour. As ruckus prevailed, the House was adjourned for the day.
Earlier, when the House reassembled after first adjournment at 2 PM, members from Congress, TMC, DMK, JD(U), and others again trooped into the well raising slogans against the government over security breach issue. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said yesterday’s incident was unfortunate and it was a serious one concerning safety of MPs. He said Speaker Om Birla promptly held a meeting with floor leaders to strengthen Parliament security. He added that some suggestions given by MPs have already been implemented and further measures will be taken. The Minister added that Parliament House security comes under the purview of the Speaker and Mr. Birla has already written to the Home Secretary for a high-level inquiry. Mr. Joshi underlined that no politics should be done on such a grave national issue. He also moved a motion to suspend five Congress MPs from the House for the remaining part of the Winter Session for their unruly behaviour. Amid uproar, the House was adjourned till 3 PM.
In the morning, when the Lok Sabha met for the day, opposition members including Congress, DMK, TMC, JD(U) and others started raising slogans. The Speaker said all are concerned about the security of Parliament and yesterday a meeting of leaders was called. He said, the security of Parliament is the responsibility of the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the government does not interfere in security-related matters. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh said, the investigation has been ordered in the matter and cautious approach must be taken by all in such sensitive issues. Amid pandemonium, the Speaker tried to run the Question Hour but in vain. Later, he adjourned the House till 2 PM.
A similar scene was witnessed in the Rajya Sabha. When the Upper House reassembled after fifth adjournment at 4 PM, members from Congress, TMC, DMK, Left, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT), and others continued with their protest over the security breach issue. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar repeatedly asked suspended TMC MP Derek O’Brien to withdraw from the House but he didn’t pay heed. Following this, Leader of the House, Piyush Goyal moved a motion to send the matter related to the gross misconduct of Mr O’Brien to the Privilege committee. The committee has been asked to submit its report within three months. The Chairman expressed displeasure over continuously defying Chair’s direction by the TMC MP and adjourned the House for the day. Earlier, the House witnessed several adjournments. Mr O’Brien was suspended from the House at 2 PM for remainder of the session for his unruly behaviour. The Chairman called the floor leaders of the different political parties for a meeting in his chamber. Opposition members from Congress, TMC, DMK, and others were in the well, raising slogans over the security breach issue. They demanded a discussion and Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on the issue. The Chairman informed the House that a high-level probe has been ordered into the incident and the security matter is being duly addressed.
