Parliament security breach: Here is what BJP MP Pratap Simha, who issued visitor pass to intruder, says

After a major security breach in the Lok Sabha in which two men carrying smoke canisters jumped into the chamber of the House from the visitors' gallery, BJP MP from Mysuru Pratap Simha— under whose name a visitor pass was issued to one of the intruders—met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and clarified his position, reported India Today citing sources.

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The report said Simha told the Lok Sabha Speaker that the father of Sagar Sharma, one of the accused, is a resident of his constituency and had requested a visitor pass to tour the new Parliament building. The BJP MP informed Birla that he was constantly in touch with his office, and personal assistant so that Sagar Sharma could visit Parliament. He further said he had no additional information besides what he had already shared.

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Earlier, two people — Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D— jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors' gallery during Zero Hour and released yellow gas from canisters before they were caught by MPs inside the House. They shouted slogans before being overpowered by MPs.

When the incident took place inside the Lok Sabha chambers, two protesters — Neelam and Amol — sprayed coloured gas outside the Parliament premises and shouted slogans. All four were detained.

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The preliminary investigation revealed that six people were involved in the conspiracy, PTI reported citing sources. The report further said all the six accused wanted to go inside the building, but only two managed to get visitor passes.

Meanwhile, the Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, “The incident took place on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack on the old Parliament building and cannot be taken lightly. The new Parliament does not seem to be configured very well when it comes to security.”

He demanded a detailed response on the security arrangements for Parliament from the Home Minister.

The party also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked, “ PM Modi, yeh hai desh ki suraksha?”

The grand old party also posted a picture of Pratap Simha with Prime Minister Modi on its official X account saying, "Infiltration in Parliament on the pass of BJP MP Pratap Simha".

How the visitor pass is issued

To visit the Parliament building, a visitor has to first put a request in the name of the Member of Parliament from the constituency where he lives.

The MPs under whose names the pass is issued need to do a security check before the visitor's access. The MP checks and verifies the identity card submitted by the visitor.

The visitor has to go through stringent security checks by the guards and electronic machines deployed at the entrance of the Parliament.