Mumbai: NCP founder and former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday demanded to set up an urgent enquiry on recent security lapses in Parliament. The veteran politician wrote a letter to Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar in this regard. Mr. Pawar, who is a member of Rajya Sabha, also asked Mr. Dhankhar’s intervention in the suspension of MPs.
In his two page letter, the NCP leader has described the security breach as deeply troubling especially in the light of the terrorist attack that happened on that very day in 2001.
Mr. Pawar shared the letter on his X account. Subsequently, 49 MPs including Baramati MP and NCP chief’s daughter Supriya Sule and Shirur MP Dr. Amol Kolhe were suspended from the Lok Sabha on Tuesday for disrupting proceedings of the House. The MPs are demanding clarification from Union home minister Amit Shah over last week's security breach in Parliament. On December 13, two men jumped from the public gallery into the House and released yellow smoke from the canisters.
Calling the incident a matter of grave concern, the former Union minister said, “Given the severity of incident, it is but natural the members of the parliament would seek a clarification regarding the same and the government should have been forthcoming with a statement as to how it intended to address the issue. It is, however, disheartening that not only has the government distanced itself from such a statement but taken action of suspension of members of Parliament seeking explanation/statement regarding the same.”
Mr. Pawar also wrote in the letter, “The decision to suspend Members of Parliament seeking an explanation for this incident seems counterintuitive to the principles of accountability and transparency. Members of Parliament have a legitimate right to seek clarification, and ensure the safety of the parliamentary environment, which is our country’s icon of democracy."
He pointed out that those who have not entered into well have also been suspended. “I am also given to understand that some members who did not enter the well and give slogans and were not involved in the continuous disruption too have been named in the list of those suspended,” Mr. Pawar said.
The NCP leader requested the Rajya Sabha chairman to address the issues of attack and suspension of the members of Parliament. “I would request you to kindly address this matter in the interest of upholding the integrity of the parliamentary processes and precedents and the democratic values,” he said.
Speaking with a regional news channel over the suspension of MPs including Supriya Sule, Mr Pawar said that the Home Minister should make a statement about those people who had come to the House by breaching the security. “No action was taken against those who were responsible for maintaining security, but action was taken against the MPs who were seeking information about the incident. This means that the ruling parties are not serious about the dignity and protection of parliamentary democracy. This is an example of the same,” the NCP chief said.
