LS breach: What if someone else, not MP Simha had given pass?

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: The security failure that occurred in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday during the ongoing winter session, forces one to consider the many facets of the lapse.

The two men, Sagar and Manoranjan D, who jumped down from the gallery and into the Lower House, had gotten passes from BJP MP from Mysuru-Kodagu Pratap Simha.

The men appear to be a part of a sixmember group that wanted to protest against issues such as unemployment and the ruling party’s 'authoritarianism'. Sagar and Manoranjan shouted slogans and set off smoke canisters before being apprehended.

Three more of them have been nabbed. Meanwhile, Simha has tried to downplay his role in the breach, telling Speaker Om Birla that he didn’t personally know the intruders, adding that the father of one of them was from his constituency.

While handing out the passes, the MP gives an undertaking that he knows the visitors, which is inconsistent with Simha’s excuse. Congress on the other hand wants the erring MP arrested.

Moreover, consider what would have been the response of the ruling BJP if the passes had been handed out by a Muslim MP.

Alternatively, what if the passes were issued by a Congress MP and the intruders had been Muslim?

Surely, a salivating saffron party would have called it a well coordinated conspiracy and a terrorist attack.

Note that the date of the breach (December 13) coincided with the terrorist attack on the old Parliament complex in 2001, in which five assailants killed nine persons before being neutralised.

The consequences include a series of additional security measures, which make us a less trusting and increasingly securitized society, a result that isn’t bemoaned enough.

Safety to be tightened after lapse

Four major reasons have been cited for the security breach and corrective measures have been planned.

Indian Express reported that Delhi Police had agreed to post 250 to 300 personnel in the Parliament complex but only 176 cops had been present there at the time of the breach.

Secondly, since the two Houses shifted to the new Parliament, security measures are yet to be realized.

Express revealed that a day before the intrusion, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) had agreed to build security infrastructure including bullet-proof barriers under the “Redevelopment of reception lounge and other security infrastructure in Parliament Complex” at a cost of Rs 35 crore.

Thirdly, the gallery height of the building is only 11 feet, a consequence of trying to accommodate more people. Lastly, the intruders were able to easily jump from the gallery into the House.

Moreover, they hid plastic canisters in their shoes, which weren’t detected. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha security team is reportedly already planning glass barriers between the gallery and the House.

Body scanning machines available at airports will be used to check visitors. Visitor passes have also been temporarily suspended and separate entrances for lawmakers, media and staff are now in place.