NEW DELHI, Dec 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday underscored the seriousness of an incident in which Parliament’s security was breached and expressed confidence that corrective measures will be taken.
Sources said Modi made these remarks at a meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and leaders of different political parties during which he also took note of an incident of a civilian sitting among the MLAs in the Assembly in the Congress-ruled Karnataka.
According to the sources, Modi said such a massive security breach never got prominence.
During the budget presentation in the Karnataka Assembly by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in July, a person had managed to enter the chamber and sit on an MLA’s chair for some time, before being identified.
The Centre has asserted that Parliament’s security is in the domain of the Lok Sabha Secretariat and it will implement whatever guidelines comes from the speaker.
In a recent interview, Modi said the seriousness of Parliament’s security breach cannot be underestimated, while adding that everyone should avoid squabbling over such an issue, in a reference to the opposition’s protests in the two Houses over it.
After the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die, Modi met Birla and the leaders of some political parties in a customary meeting.
The government succeeded in getting Parliament’s nod on its legislative agenda during the winter session.
The sources said Modi thanked everyone. The prime minister and the leaders of different political parties generally visit the speaker after the end of every Parliament session.
Opposition leaders, most of whom were suspended from the two Houses for their continuous protests over the incident of security breach in Parliament, kept away from the meeting.
Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) Bhartruhari Mahtab and Shiv Sena’s Rahul Shewale were among the leaders present at the meeting, besides Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Pralhad Joshi, among others.
While Shiv Sena is an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the BJD maintains a neutral stand but has been supportive of the government on its key decisions.
The Lok Sabha, which was adjourned sine die a day ahead of schedule on Thursday, recorded 74 per cent productivity in the session, Birla noted.
In his concluding remarks in the House, the speaker said the Lok Sabha held 14 sittings and worked for 61 hours and 50 minutes.
He said 18 bills, including Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Sanhita — to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal procedure (CrPC) and Indian Evidence Act respectively — were passed in the Lok Sabha. (PTI)
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