New Delhi: In a shocking incident of security breach, six people were arrested for creating a ruckus in the Parliament by using smoke sticks on Wednesday. The incident reminded many of the terrorist attack on the Parliament that took place on December 13, 2001.
What happened inside the Parliament?
According to sources, two of the accused, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D, entered the Lok Sabha gallery with passes issued on the recommendation of BJP MP from Mysore Pratap Simha. They waited for the Zero Hour when BJP MP Khagen Murmu was speaking on the floor of the House. Suddenly, they jumped from the gallery and ran towards the benches. Sharma took out a smoke stick from his shoe and started spraying it in the air, while Manoranjan tried to reach the Speaker’s podium.
The MPs and the security personnel quickly reacted and caught the intruders. They were beaten up by some of the MPs before being handed over to the police. The Speaker adjourned the House for the day.
What happened outside the Parliament?
Meanwhile, two more accused, Neelam and Amol Shinde, were also creating chaos outside the Parliament. They used colored smoke sticks to spray gas near the main gate. They were also shouting slogans against the government and the BJP. They were soon overpowered by the security guards and the police.
Who are the accused and what was their motive?
The police have identified the six accused as follows:
- Sagar Sharma, 28, a resident of Lucknow. He drives an e-rickshaw and his father is a carpenter. He came to Delhi two days before the incident.
- Manoranjan D, 35, a resident of Bengaluru. He is an engineer and his father is an acquaintance of BJP MP Pratap Simha. He had been asking for a pass to watch the Lok Sabha proceedings for a long time.
- Neelam, 42, is a resident of Jind, Haryana. She is a student in Hisar and lives in a PG. She is a leftist and was active in the farmers’ movement. Her father owns a sweet shop in Uchana.
- Amol Shinde, 25, is a resident of Latur, Maharashtra. He is a farmer and his parents are laborers. He had been trying for police recruitment but failed many times.
- Lalit Jha, 31, a resident of Gurugram. He works as a driver and lives in Housing Board Colony, Sector 7. He hosted the other four accused at his house before they went to the Parliament.
- Rajesh Kumar, 29, a resident of Delhi. He is a friend of Lalit and helped him arrange the smoke sticks. He is still absconding.
The police have recovered the smoke sticks, the passes, and the mobile phones of the accused. They have also seized a laptop from Lalit’s house, which contains some videos and messages related to the incident. The police suspect that the accused were motivated by some anti-national elements and wanted to disrupt the functioning of the Parliament. They have also found some links between the accused and some leftist and farmer groups.
What is the role of BJP MP Pratap Simha?
The role of BJP MP Pratap Simha has come under the scanner, as he had recommended the passes for Sagar and Manoranjan. He claimed that he did not know about their intentions and that he was only helping Manoranjan’s father, who is his friend. He has also said that he met the Parliamentary Affairs Minister and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and explained his position. He has expressed his regret and condemned the incident.
However, the opposition parties have demanded his resignation and a thorough probe into his involvement. They have also accused the government and the BJP of failing to ensure the security of the Parliament and the MPs. They have demanded a statement from the Prime Minister and the Home Minister on the matter.
The police are interrogating the accused and are trying to find out more details about their network and their plan. They are also reviewing the security arrangements in and around the Parliament and are taking steps to prevent any such incidents in the future.
