Parliament Security Breach: Govt, Opp blame each other for House logjam

Reacting to the Opposition allegation that the Centre was trying to suppress its voice, Joshi said, “No one is trying to suppress anyone’s voice, it is their opinion. I want to say, come and debate. Two Bills are listed today. On Monday, three important Bills to replace the IPC, the CrPC and the Evidence Act will be taken up. We want a detailed discussion. We have allotted 15 hours.”

Amid demands from Opposition leaders for a statement in the House from Home Minister Amit Shah on the incident, Joshi said, “Both the buildings (Parliament) are under the Speaker’s purview. We are following the Speaker’s order. A high-level probe is going on.”

Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare SP Singh Baghel accused the Opposition of trying to politicise the issue and divert attention from the government’s achievements by not allowing Parliament to function.

“The Speaker has written to the Home Minister, the probe has been given to the DG of the CRPF. What ideology they (the attackers) were influenced by, what was their intention — the Home Minister can make a statement only after these details come out. He will not make a statement (in the House) with half information,” he said.

Opposition MPs, meanwhile, blamed the Centre for the disruptions in the House and questioned why Shah was not making a statement in Parliament.

“The Home Minister is responsible for the Delhi Police, for the nation’s security. He is speaking to news channels outside. His principal accountability when Parliament is in session is to the very House he is a member of. He should come and speak to the MPs. Had he done it, this crisis could have been diffused a very long time ago,” Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha said the Opposition leaders are ready to wait for the probe report, but the Home Minister should make a statement. Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena (UBT) said, “I believe not just the Opposition, those on the treasury benches should also urge the home minister to make a statement. They say they will get back PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir), Aksai Chin, and they cannot even protect Parliament”.

SP chief: BJP wants to scare people

Kannauj: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday targeted the BJP over security lapse in the Parliament House and alleged that the ruling party wanted to scare people in the name of security. PTI