14 MPs suspended in storm over LS breach

Fierce face-off over security scare

- Saubhadra Chatterji and Smriti Kak Ramachandran

The alarming breach of security at the highest seat of Indian democracy rocked both Houses of Parliament on Thursday as a defiant government clashed with an aggressive Opposition demanding an explanation for the brazen incursion, prompting the suspension of 14 Opposition members and a washout of proceedings amid angry protests.

As Parliament reconvened at 11am, Opposition members started shouting slogans, and stormed to the Well of the House to demand Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on the glaring lapses exposed on Wednesday. High drama ensued, leading to the suspension of Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien in the Rajya Sabha and 13 members from the Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Left parties from the Lok Sabha.

This elicited howls of protest from the Opposition that argued that the government was attempting to brazen out what was a serious breach of security. In the evening, the suspension of a member – DMK lawmaker SR Parthiban – who was not present in the House was revoked.

The developments came a day after two men walked through three layers of security with smoke canisters stuffed in their shoes, vaulted into the Lok Sabha from the visitors’ gallery, and sprayed smoke. The attack – which came on the anniversary the 2001 terror strike on Parliament –sparked troubling questions about laxity in security protocols and glaring gaps in lessons learnt.

Even as the police attempted to piece together how an e-rickshaw driver, a farmer, a government job aspirant, a tutor, and a daily wage labourer mounted the daring plan, a new and tightened security protocol was rolled out in Parliament. The main gate for lawmakers was sanitised, visitors were barred and additional security hands ensured intense frisking — including the removal of shoes in some cases.