A Bunch Of Amateurs Show Gaps In Parliament's Security
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2023-12-14 06:45:32
About the Author
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
View all posts by this Author
Even as India was remembering the victims of the attack on the old Parliament House on December 13, 2011, another scary security breach happened in the new Parliament building when two miscreants jumped from the visitor's gallery into the Lok Sabha chamber when Zero Hour proceedings were going on. They rushed to the well of the House, took out canisters and started spraying smoke as MPs ducked for cover, thinking an armed attack had taken place. The miscreants had obtained the visitor's passes from the office of BJP MP Pratap Simha. They were overpowered by some MPs who also thrashed them and arrested later, along with 3 of their co-conspirators outside. All 5 have been charged under UAPA.
This was a major breach of security in the highly fortified Parliament zone. Even if the miscreants had visitor's passes, it is strange that they were able to pass through four levels of checks with the canisters. Is body-frisking and bag checking not part of the security protocol? It is being reported that pat-downs is a part of the protocol. Obviously then the bags visitors carry are also checked, either though scanning machines or physically. Then how did they manage to take them inside? This is a major lapse as the canisters could have been anything more dangerous. The probe must focus on security lapses on the ground.
It has been decided to close the visitors gallery for the time being until security protocols are reviewed. It has also been decided to have an enclosed visitor's gallery to prevent people from jumping into the chamber. These are good measures but the gaps in Parliament's security must be fixed. After an initial review, 8 Lok Sabha personnel have been suspended for the lapse.It is distressing to think that a bunch of amateurs have shown that, despite the chest-thumping claims by security agencies that a 2011-type attack on Parliament is impossible now, Parliament's security remains vulnerable.
