NEW DELHI:
Lok Sabha
speaker Om Birla on Saturday wrote to all the MPs over the
Parliament security breach
incident saying that it is a matter of grave concern and informed members of the House he has formed a "high-powered committee" to review various aspects of security in the Parliament complex.
"A high-level inquiry committee has been constituted for an in-depth investigation of the incident.
I have also constituted a high-powered committee which will review various aspects of security in the Parliament Complex and formulate a concrete action plan to ensure that such incidents do not recur," Om Birla said in his letter.
"The report of this committee will soon be shared with the House," he added.
Major security breach in Lok Sabha on Parliament attack anniversary, visitors jump from gallery, burst canisters
The security breach happened on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack. Two people--Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D--jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted anti-establishment slogans before being overpowered by the MPs.
Six people have been arrested so far in connection to the incident including key accused Lalit Jha.
In his letter, the Lok Sabha Speaker also clarified that suspension of 14 MPs had nothing to do with the December 13 incident and that the decision was to "uphold the sanctity of the House".
"It is indeed unfortunate that some members and political parties are linking the decision of the House to suspend some members from the service of the House to the incident which occurred on December 13. This is unwarranted," he said.
"We are well aware that the people of our country do not appreciate the inappropriate conduct and interruptions during the proceedings of the House. That is the reason we were unanimous that we would establish highest standards of parliamentary decorum and dignity. It was in this context that House was compelled to take strict action of suspending Hon'ble Members," he added.
Day after Lok Sabha security was breached, 14 opposition party MPs were suspended from Parliament for the remainder of the Winter Session, for “disrupting” proceedings.
Security breach: Manickam Tagore, Kanimozhi among 15 MPs suspended for 'unruly conduct' in Parliament
The Lok Sabha security breach incident snowballed into a major row on Thursday with the government asking the opposition not to “politicise” the “grave national issue,” and Congress, TMC, DMK and other opposition parties were unrelenting in demanding a statement from home minister Amit Shah.
While Trinamool Congress floor leader Derek O'Brien was suspended from Rajya Sabha, 14 opposition MPs, including nine from Congress and DMK's Kanimozhi, were suspended from Lok Sabha for disrupting the proceedings. O’Brien’s matter was also referred to the Privilege Committee of the House.
Amid opposition protests, demanding a statement on the breach from Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi moved two resolutions separately for suspension of MPs for disrupting the proceedings in Lok Sabha.
Opposition MPs had moved into the well of Lok Sabha raising slogans, questioning the breach and demanding a statement from the government.
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