Speaker Om Birla says Lok Sabha’s safety is underneath the secretariat’s purview
New Delhi:
Responding to Opposition’s demand that Union Home Minister Amit Shah resign over the large safety breach in Parliament yesterday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla says that safety contained in the House is underneath the secretariat’s purview and that it’s going to not let the Centre intervene.
Both Houses of Parliament have been adjourned shortly after they met this morning as Opposition MPs raised slogans criticising the safety equipment failure that led to the chaos involving two intruders yesterday.
Two males, who had entered the House as guests, set off canisters full of colored smoke within the Lok Sabha chamber, sparking chaos. Two others used color smoke outdoors Parliament. The 4 have been arrested. They have advised police that their goal was to spotlight unemployment, farmers’ points and the Manipur unrest.
Amid Opposition MPs’ slogans, Mr Birla immediately stated he has mentioned the matter with the House and can proceed to take action. “We will discuss this with all of you. The responsibility and jurisdiction for the security arrangements lies with Lok Sabha secretariat. That’s why the secretariat will speak to you,” he stated as Opposition members known as for the Home Minister’s resignation.
“The government cannot intervene in (responsibilities of) Lok Sabha secretariat. We will not allow that either,” he stated.
As Opposition MPs continued to lift slogans, Mr Birla stated such incidents had taken place up to now too. “We will discuss them as well, and also talk about what how we can prevent such incidents in the future. This is our jurisdiction. I am responsible for everyone’s safety.”
Addressing Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated yesterday’s incident was unlucky. “All MPs need to be careful about how we issue passes,” he stated, praising Mr Birla’s transfer to order an investigation quickly after the incident yesterday. Criticising the Opposition’s protest, he stated there isn’t a level of making chaos within the House over this matter.