All's not well with Parliament security

Subhasish Mitra (Wide Angle)

The winter session of Parliament has just concluded. But it has sent a message, loud and clear, that all's not well with the security arrangements at the temple of democracy.

 

The chinks in the armour were well exposed, to say the least. Security lapse in Parliament on anniversary of 2001 terrorist attack is indeed a wake-up call.

 

What is most shocking is the laxity and the failure of Parliament security and the intelligence apparatus. That the new building could be breached so easily, on the anniversary of the terrorist attack in 2001, brings up horrific scenarios of what could have happened.

 

Thankfully, the breach was limited to the intruders shouting slogans and hurling canisters with coloured smoke, and four out of five members so far accused of involvement in the plot to stage the spectacle, have been apprehended; it could have been much worse. However, questions remain about how the group, reportedly fans of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh who bonded on social media.

 

The Opposition soon began to ask probing questions about the incident. Already angry over expulsion of TMC leader Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha in the "bribe-for-query" case, they upped the ante after the December 13 incident, demanding discussion on the security breach issue and a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on it. Some opposition members demanded his resignation. Chaotic scenes were witnessed in both Houses, leading disruption of proceedings and the suspensions.

 

In Lok Sabha, the first set of suspension of 13 members came on December 14. On December 18, 33 MPs were suspended, on December 19, 49 MPs and on December 20, two MPs. Three members were suspended on Thursday.

 

After the 2001 armed attack, a complete security overhaul including CCTV cameras, barricades and electric fencing were put in place in the old Parliament building. These measures are reportedly in place in the new structure as well. But the latest breach occurred from the visitors’ gallery and the canisters in the shoes of the perpetrators did not set off metal detectors. The new Parliament has seen an increase in visitors without a commensurate increase in security personnel.

 

Twice bitten, the government has decided to hand over "comprehensive" security of the Parliament building complex to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in the wake of the recent breach of the safety ring.

 

Earlier, frisking of visitors to Parliament complex was done by Delhi Police personnel.

 

The CISF will render access control to the new and old Parliament complex in an airport security-like fashion where body frisking of persons will be done through hand-held detectors and their belongings will be checked through X-ray machines, with a provision to even scan shoes, heavy jackets and belts by putting them on a tray and passing them through the scanner.

 

While the opposition accused the government of stifling its voice, Speaker Om Birla wrote to MPs saying the suspensions were not for raising the security breach issue in the Lok Sabha, but for "carrying placards and creating ruckus". In his concluding remarks ahead of the sine die adjournment, he said 14 sittings were held and the House worked for 61 hours and 50 minutes.

 

Birla said the House recorded 74 per cent productivity. As many as 18 Bills were passed in the session, including bills like the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second), which will replace the IPC, the CrPC, and the Evidence Act. A Bill to regulate the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners was also passed.

 

The Winter session also marked the first full-fledged session to be held in the new Parliament building.

 

In the "bribe-for-query" case, on December 8, a report of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee was tabled in the House. It recommended the expulsion of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Moitra. Subsequently, a resolution for her expulsion was passed by the Lok Sabha. Moitra was not allowed to speak in the House, and the move saw a united walkout by opposition MPs in solidarity.