- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
The Indian home ministry has ordered a probe into the incident which took place on the 22nd anniversary of a deadly terror attack on the parliament building.
By: Shubham Ghosh
AS many as 15 Indian opposition parliamentarians were suspended on Thursday (14) following a protest against a massive security breach in the parliament the day before.
Later, the suspension of one opposition MP was withdrawn since he was not in Delhi at the time of ruckus, India’s NDTV reported citing sources.
At least four persons were arrested after two of them entered the Lok Sabha or the lower chamber of the Indian parliament and burst coloured smoke canisters inside the parliament building. Two others carried out the same outside the parliament.
They were charged under the stringent anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The Indian home ministry has ordered a probe into the incident which took place on the 22nd anniversary of a deadly terror attack on the parliament building.
Security at the parliament was ramped up around the parliament building on Thursday with barricades installed to restrict entry. The Indian parliament was shifted to a new building adjacent to the colonial-era one in May.
Both houses of the parliament were adjourned by the opposition parliamentarians who demanded a talk on the incident and statements from both prime minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah.
In the Rajya Sabha or the upper house, opposition parliamentarian Derek O’Brien was suspended for “ignoble conduct” after he raised slogans seeking a statement from Shah.
In the Lok Sabha, 14 MPs from opposition Indian National Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) were suspended till December 22, when the ongoing winter session concludes. The suspension of the DMK’s SR Parthiban was withdrawn later as the government said it was included by mistake.
They were later seen holding a silent protest against the suspension outside the parliament.
Opposition leaders sought action against Pratap Simha, a parliamentarian representing Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party who allegedly signed passes used by the intruders to enter the parliament’s public gallery.
Reuters reported citing a police officer that visitor passes have been suspended until a security review was done for the parliament complex.
Wednesday’s incident occurred while lawmakers were in session in the Lok Sabha. Earlier in the day, Indian president Droupadi Murmu, Modi and other leaders had paid tribute to the victims of the 2001 attack in which nine people were killed.
All five attackers were eliminated by the security forces.
The BJP was in power at the time with Atal Bihari Vajpayee holding the office of the prime minister.
